Dementieva downs Safina for gold

Elena Dementieva overcame a familiar attack of nerves to snap her Russian compatriot Dinara Safina’s 15-match winning streak and claim the Olympic women’s singles title.

Despite being hauled back from a break up early in the final set, the notoriously flaky Dementieva recovered her poise to break Safina again then serve out solidly to take the title 3-6 7-5 6-3.