Li Ting and Sun Tiantian, the top Chinese pair in the women's doubles, won for their country the first-ever gold medal in tennis, beating Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual from Spain 6-3, 6-3 in the final at the Olympic Games in Athens on Sunday.??

Li/Sun, seeded No.8 in the Olympic tennis tournament, held a steady mind during the match against the Spanish veterans, making less unforced errors when playing long rallies along the baselines.

 

In spite of serving many more double faults, the Chinese left no chance for the No.2 seeds to steal their victory, seizing six out of ten break points opportunities and converting the match into an overwhelming triumph.

 

"We had never thought about it before the Olympics, even before this match," said Li Ting, 24-year-old girl from Hubei Province.

 

"We felt so happy to win the gold, and we will be even better in the next Olympics," said Sun Tiantian, adding that she wanted to take a good rest now.

 

However, Sun said that they are going to take part in the US Open right after the Olympics, but "the Olympic gold means more to us than the championship of Grand Slams."

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 23, 2004)