William Sisters knocked out of Rio

By Payal Dwivedi on August 8, 2016 at 4:03 PM

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Three-time doubles gold medalists Venus and Serena Williams have lost their first-ever Olympics doubles match. The tennis champions have won gold in the doubles matches at London 2012, Beijing’s 2008 Games and at Sydney’s Olympics in 2000. They were favorites to take home their fourth gold on Sunday, when they lost in straight sets to the Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova in 93 minutes. It comes as yet another blow for Venus who crashed out of the women’s singles Olympic tennis tournament in Rio on Saturday. Four-time gold medalist Venus, who is ranked 6th best player in the world, lost to Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) in a three-hour center court marathon, marking her first ever opening round loss. Serena had better luck, managing to hold on to her Olympic singles gold medal, winning with a patchy-at-times 6-4, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Daria Gavrilova on Sunday.

-Three-time doubles gold medalists Venus and Serena Williams have lost their first ever Olympics match (Serena reacts after losing a point at the net in a doubles match).

-Venus Williams, of the United States, right, talks with her sister Serena after losing a point in a doubles match against Lucie Sarfarova and Barbora Strycova.

-Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova (R) and Barbora Strycova celebrate after winning their women’s first round doubles tennis match against USA’s Serena and Venus Williams.

-It was all smiles for Strycova (left and with her teammate Safarova, right) after their win.

-The sisters looked dejected as they left the stadium after their loss, giving a glum wave to the crowd.

-This is the first time in a decade that the Williams sisters have lost a doubles match at the Games.

-Lucie Sarfarova and Barbora Strycova, of the Czech Republic, celebrate winning a point against Venus and Serena Williams, of the United States.

-.Serena had better luck, managing to hold on to her Olympic singles gold medal, winning with a patchy-at-times 6-4, 6-2 victory over Australia’s Daria Gavrilova on Sunday.