HISTORY was made at the Rio Olympic Tennis Centre as last night as Monica Puig shocked Angelique Kerber to claim Puerto Rico’s first gold medal.Monica Puig upset the odds to beat Angelique Kerber in yesterday’s women singles final at Rio 2016 and win a first Olympic gold medal for Puerto Rico.
The world number 34 had already beaten the likes of Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova to reach the final and once again belied her underdog status to secure a 6-4 4-6 6-1 victory.
Puig, 22, etches her name into the history books as Puerto Rico’s first Olympic champion, having produced a fantastic display of aggressive tennis against the much-fancied Kerber, the second seed.
Kerber has enjoyed a breakout 2016 in terms of grand slam success, winning the Australian Open and finishing as the runner-up to Serena Williams at Wimbledon.
Yet the German – who required medical treatment after the first set – was unable to find an answer to an inspired opponent.
Puig was broken at the first time of asking, but hit straight back when Kerber put a forehand into the net.
As the opening set progressed it was clear Puig was not overawed by the situation, her crisp ball-striking and aggressive play from the baseline putting Kerber under pressure.
And eventually the German yielded when serving to stay in the set as Puig hit a two-handed backhand that clipped the net and landed in.
Kerber was noticeably in discomfort in that final game and required an off-court medical timeout at the end of the set.
But the timeout appeared to reinvigorate Kerber, who broke immediately and saw another break-point opportunity go begging in game three.
Puig came back at Kerber and when the German volleyed a forehand into the net the score was level again at 4-4. Yet Kerber broke back immediately and served out to force a decider.
Undeterred, Puig came out firing and broke for a 2-0 lead, before a poor drop-shot into the net from Kerber saw her fall four games behind.
Kerber ensured a final-set bagel did not occur and Puig was made to toil in a marathon last game, saving six break points and wasting two match points before finally sealing the win when Kerber went wide with a forehand.