A flag malfunction punctures Serena Williams’ golden moment on the podium after her triumph over Maria Sharapova in the London 2012 Ladies Gold Medal match.
As the Star Spangled Banner sounded in SW19, the moment should have been one to savour for Serena Williams after she claimed her first singles Olympic gold following her 6-0 6-1 demolition of Maria Sharapova on Saturday. However, the gusty conditions that had previously worked to the American’s advantage by upsetting her Russian opponent’s notoriously fragile service game turned against her. The watching crowds gasped as the US flag blew free and fluttered into the stand leaving only the standards of Russia and Belarus to fly proudly during the anthem.
Thankfully for the organisers, Williams, who became only the second female player after Steffi Graf to complete a Golden Grand Slam with the win, said she was not upset by the incident. “Oh God, no. It was amazing to just be up there for the USA and hold this medal,” she said.
