Venus and Serena Williams win Olympic gold

Venus Williams (left) and Serena Williams of the United States celebrate after winning the women's doubles gold medal match of the London 2012 Olympic Games by defeating Czech Republic's Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on August 5, 2012. / LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images

Last Updated 12:21 p.m. ET

(AP) LONDON - Serena Williams relishes her role as copycat little sister. Even if it takes her 12 years.

Now, she has that remarkable Olympic double — just like Venus.

The overpowering American pair teamed to win the women's doubles title at the Olympics on Sunday, with Serena adding to the singles gold she won on Centre Court at Wimbledon a day earlier.

"Crazy," Serena said. "I'm always copying her. I forgot that she did it in Sydney and I do it here. We're the same doubles team, we just split this to singles, so it's cool."

The sisters beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4 under the roof on a rainy afternoon at the All England Club. Venus — with her red, white and blue braids pulled back into a bun — closed out the match on the very grass she has long loved with a backhand volley winner after the Czechs saved a pair of match points.

"We all talk about this, 'We have so many medals,' but to be able to add to that, it's like an unbelievable feeling," Venus said. "You know that in that count, there you are. It feels amazing."

On Saturday, Serena beat Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 for the singles gold. She joined Steffi Graf as the only women to complete the Golden Slam — winning the Olympics and the four majors.

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When the Americans in the crowd at Centre Court broke into a chant of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" as the players left the court, the sisters each pumped their fists, turned around to wave, then slapped a high-five. The medal ceremony had to wait for the outdoor bronze-medal match, which was delayed by rain.

With Bob and Mike Bryan capturing gold in men's doubles Saturday, make it three golds for U.S. tennis in two days.

"It's great because America's added three gold medals to our medal count just in the tennis," Venus said. "I feel great to be a part of this U.S. team this year."

Serena became tennis' first double gold medalist at an Olympics since Venus won singles and doubles at the 2000 Sydney Games. The sisters also won the doubles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With Sunday's victory, they each have a record four Olympic tennis gold medals, and the sisters didn't drop a set through their five matches at the London Games.

94 Photos

Olympics: The thrill and the agony

While Serena was thrilled to win on her own Saturday, with Venus rooting her on from the family box, the doubles is what she most cared about coming to the London Games.

Especially considering all the emotional and physical struggles for Venus, who was diagnosed last year with an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue.

"This is all I wanted," said Venus, who had all of about two months to raise her ranking and qualify for the Olympics. "Boy, was that a battle. That was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I really feel proud of what happened here at the Olympics."

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[ssporleder]

When will the Olympics return to REAL amateurs in the games and once more make it fair?

[Thierry_Hubert]

Amazing performance by the Williams Sisters! I was able to discover this article through tweather on the dedicated page for Serena. Check it out http://olympics.tweather.co/serenawilliams

[Bryon_Evans]

Hip Hip Hurray... for Professional Sports.

This is like Justin Bieber participating as a contestant on "Teen Idol" or Ed Van Halen on "America's Got Talent". This is pathetic and a slap in the face of what the Olympics means to the entire world. Or would everyone just find it perfectly acceptable if Aerosmith, U2 or Metallica showed up at a high school 'Battle of the Bands' and won 1st prize?

[cattiej]

Agree very much with your comment...Wish these braggerts would not be in the Olympics...they are professionals but they want more gold and more glory...don't watch them anymore...they are NOT a credit to the U.S. neither is the mens basketball team...they too are all professional and make millions of dollars...I think only college men should play in the Olympics. but then the Olympics are just about money and greed on the part of the managers, the the owners of these people.

[Smilestoo]

Be patient. When something terrible happens, the media will immediately change its focus. The Aurora killings are old news now. Don't worry, sooner or later someone somewhere will do something terrible, it will over shadow the olympics, and you can have real news again.

[dustin93sc]

The Williams Sisters are professionally-trained athletes in a rank amateur event. The International Olympic Committee hopes to gain millions of dollars from their free of charge participation.

[Aceduece]

It's no different than the professional basketball players competing in their sport. And even though athletes like the swimmers and gymnasts are considered amatures, they have large commercial product contracts and earn millions also.