WIMBLEDON, England (AP)—Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka bounced back from a semifinal drubbing against Serena Williams to win an Olympic bronze medal Saturday.
Azarenka earned the first tennis medal ever for Belarus by beating 14th-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia 6-3, 6-4.
Azarenka won only three games off Williams but started well against Kirilenko and broke serve five times. By the third game of the second set, Kirilenko was heaving her racket in frustration.
When Kirilenko pushed a backhand into the net on match point, a triumphant Azarenka sank to her knees. A supporter tossed her a Belarusian flag, which she happily draped over her shoulders as she walked off the court to cheers.