Czechs Safarova-Strycova end Williams' reign

In a major upset in the women's tennis doubles at Rio Olympics, Czechs Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova defeated defending gold medallists Serena and Venus Williams of America 6-3, 6-4.

The surprise win on Sunday ends the US hegemony. The Williams sisters had won three gold medals together in London 2012, Beijing 2008 and Sydney 2000, reports Efe.

Safarova and Strycova, who arrived in Rio with 10 consecutive victories, seemed to play with faith and delivered a great game.

Venus Williams in particular has had a disappointing experience in her fourth Olympic Games as she left Rio without having won a single game. She lost in her first round of the singles to Belgian Kirsten Flipkens and then was defeated in the doubles.

Safarova and Strycova will now play in the second round against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard and Gabriela Debrowski who beat Poles Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Paula Kania 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

--IANS

gau/kb/mr