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Djokavic praised
It was a roller coaster of a match for Zheng Saisai, who needed three hours of continuous play to defeat Navarro and then former world number one Angelique Kerber.
In both matches she had to fight to make up ground, and against Navarro her reputation was even attacked, with the American describing her as “cruel” and “disrespectful”.
However, her run to the final earned her fans like Novak Djokovic.
“She’s a great person. I really like her,” the Serbian star said on the eve of the gold medal match.
“(Making it to the final) means a lot for China, for her and for our sport. China is such a big country, a big market, and they have been waiting for a big champion and a big name since Li Na.”
Australia’s Matthew Ebden and John Pierce won the men’s doubles gold medal by defeating Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajiv Ram.
The unseeded pair defeated their fourth-seeded opponents 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/1), 10-8 after losing the first set.
This is Australia’s second Olympic men’s doubles title after Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodford won in Atlanta in 1996.
For Pierce, it was his second Olympic medal, having won bronze in the mixed doubles event at the Tokyo Games three years ago, partnering with Ashleigh Barty.
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