(UPDATES with quotes)
Serena Williams of the Unites States demolished Russia’s Maria Sharapova to grab her first Olympic gold in the women’s singles tennis on Saturday.
Fourth seed Williams blew Sharapova off the court, winning the first nine games on her way to a 6-0, 6-1 win sealed with an ace.
"I didn't think I would be this happy. I'm so pumped," Williams said.
"I never played better. Playing against someone like Maria you have to be at your best. I knew that, so it was like I had nothing to lose."
The victory means that Williams now has singles and doubles titles in all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympics.
Sharapova said she just could not compete with Williams.
"She has such great form, she was just too stubborn, too strong for me today," the Russian said.
"To come here and represent my country and get a silver is very exciting."
Earlier, world No.1 Victoria Azarenka beat Russia’s Maria Kirilenko in straight sets to take bronze for Belarus.
Williams can add a second gold if she and her sister Venus retain their title in the women’s doubles, where they will face Russian pair Maria Kirilenko and Nadezhda Petrova in the semifinal.
The winners will face Czech pair Lucie Hradecka and Andrea Hlavackova on Sunday.
