Nadal Captures Gold, No. 1 Rank

Rafael Nadal won the Olympic men's singles gold medal today, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3. The gold medal was the first for Spain in Olympic tennis, and Nadal became the first top-five ranked player to medal in the traditionally upset-filled sport. He takes the No. 1 ranking tomorrow, ending Roger Federer's 4 1/2-year reign.

Elena Dementieva earned the gold in women's singles, taking advantage of 17 double-faults by fellow Russian Dinara Safina to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. In women's doubles, Venus and Serena Williams of the United States won the gold, beating Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0. Russia swept the medals in women's singles when Vera Zvonareva beat Li Na of China 6-0, 7-5 to win the bronze.
(More Roger Federer stories.)