>> amazing. the both of them, this is the furthest they've gone. maria has not ever played the olympics. pulled out in beijing because of injury. serena has only played one olympics singles event and lost in the quarterfinals in beijing. the two of them, they've got everything. they've got all the grand slam trophies. they've got all the money in the world. the one thing they don't have is a singles medal and especially a gold one. >> what's really something is that maria sharapova became famous on this court when she was just 17 years old, took the final match against serena williams, who was going for three straight, and she won her first major here, but this year, maria sharapova, the matches she's won, the tournaments she's won have all been on clay. >> it's incredible. she went into the french open, and we were talking about can she win at the french? she was able to win that and consolidate all four grand slams. there's not many players in the history of women's tennis that have got all the four grand slams and she now possesses them like her opponent, serena

williams. >> this is the cradle of tennis. this is the greatest tennis court in the world, stubbsy. that they can add even more by winning here is something special. can sharapova -- we're just waiting for the two to take centre court. can maria sharapova, as well as she's played this week, can she stop serena? because she hasn't since 2004. >> well, the one big surprise, of course, was that final when she beat serena when she was 17 years of age. nobody thought she had a shot in that match. this is a different situation. do i think serena is going to win this match? absolutely. but the bottom line is you get to a final, you're playing for your first ever gold medal in singles. it means so much to you to represent your country. things may change. you may get nervous. we'll see what happens. if maria serves well, we might have a match. >> all right. it should be something to see. the gold medal match between

maria sharapova and serena williams will begin momentarily. >> i'm dan patrick. last night here in london, another memorable one here for michael phelps. in his last individual olympic swim, he won his 21st career olympic medal. gold in the 100 meter butterfly. meanwhile, 17-year-old missy franklin won gold in the 200 meter backstroke, the first american woman to do so in 40 years. already today, a photo finish in the women's triathlon with spirig of sweden winning the gold. here is the finish. they crossed the line simultaneously. they were credited with the exact same time. but the photo review gave speirig the win. coming up today, all of it live. in water polo, the american men 3-0 but now they beat serbia. considered by many to be the gold medal favorite. also, indoor volleyball. the u.s. men, the defending gold medalists and undefeated in

london. but today they face a major test against a top contender from russia. and beach volleyball. one day after the olympic champions were knocked out, americans jake gibb and sean rosenthal play a team from russia in a win or go home scenario. also, coming up live, the men's 10,000 meters from olympic stadium. plus, women's springboard diving. gold medal races in rowing. but up next, serena williams versus maria sharapova for the gold. we'll take you live to wimbledon right after this. the games of the xxx olympiad on nbc are brought to you by -- is a story of revival.

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that's why you have 1,317 friends. but who's counting. put your goals on the line, online. get started at facebook.com/healthy. powered by ge. moments ago, serena williams taking centre court. both she and maria sharapova taking a bathroom break. that's why they're a little late coming on to these hallowed grounds. perhaps they're both nervous. and following behind serena williams, the number three seed, maria sharapova. >> ladies and gentlemen,

representing the russian federation, maria sharapova. it was only weeks ago that serena williams dominated these lawns of wimbledon, winning her fifth singles title, the 14th of her long and winding grand slam career. what's missing from her luminous resume is the same glory that maria sharapova seeks. in capturing the french open this spring, the russian now owns a career grand slam as well. today, two great champions take centre court at wimbledon, looking to burnish their glorious careers with olympic gold. just starting their warm-ups. stubbsy, are you a little surprised that they took that bathroom break? >> i was, but maybe anything you can do, i can do better. it's already started before they walk on to the court. >> you really feel that, don't you? >> well, listen, these two are so competitive and they've had a

storied rivalry, not so much in favor of maria sharapova, but more on the side of serena williams. 30 years of age now, mary. 30 is the new 20, if you hadn't heard. ranked four coming in here, but really has been a dominant player in women's tennis over the last month and a half. that's the result we were talking about earlier. quarterfinals in beijing, lost to the eventually gold medalist in elena dementieva. >> and for maria sharapova, who had to miss the beijing olympics with shoulder surgery, this is her first shot at an olympic medal of any color. singles or doubles. we mentioned that she's played her very best tennis on her least likely surface, clay. >> yeah, and it's a strange turnaround, really, because her game does not lend itself to playing on a slower court like red clay. but it just shows you when her serve is on, which it has been

over the last three to four months, she can dominate a point from the first hit. she's going to have to do that today. >> she sure will. >> because serena is absolutely on fire. i haven't seen anyone -- it's like she's possessed walking on the court these days. she's got what i call the old mojo back. >> they played twice in 2004, that's when maria beat her as a 17-year-old here and at the year end championships. since then, it has been all serena. >> just one of the match-ups that we don't see there is the last time they played here at wimbledon was in 2010. and that was an unbelievably contested match. serena ended up winning that match in straight sets, 7-6, 6-4. 11-9 in the first set tie-break. i was here and watched that match. and the tension in that first set, it was almost like they both knew whoever won that first set was going to win that match.

and serena went on, of course, to win the championships that year. but it was an incredible match. high quality tennis, and let's hope we see that today. >> we've also seen so many emotions from the players, not just from serena. we're used to seeing that. but so much fire from maria sharapova, and she usually keeps things pretty close to her vest. >> every single time she's won a match, you can see the joy in her face, as you could in serena. every interview, she's so happy, loves being here. >> the final when we come back. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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rain threatening again on this saturday at wimbledon for the women's final. they're just taking their final serves. and how key is serving for both these players?

>> it's huge. serena even yesterday was virtually flawless in her singles match against azarenka. she was almost at the stage where every single time she got the first serve in, she won the point. the only few times she got a second serve in, she lost the point. >> never faced a break point against azarenka with her return game? >> well, you want to know why she's in the final? it's called dominance. and for some reason, again, serena has decided she needs to leave the court. >> wow. i've got to assume this is about nerves. it means so much. so we'll take another break.

back at centre court, wimbledon. maria sharapova the only player on the court. serena williams taking another bathroom break. you talk about the time they played in 2004. serena going for her third straight championship here. but a remarkable performance from the teenager. >> a moment maria sharapova will never forget. this is when the world said hello, maria. >> and don't you think that every time serena walks on the court against sharapova, she remembers that final. >> oh, it's called being on a mission every time she plays against sharapova, to assert her dominance in the world of women's tennis.

we all know how much this woman gets as far as publicity. there's the olympic spirit. well, we're hearing the boos from the crowd because serena sat down and is taking a drink. they want her to start this match. >> are we sure she's okay? i'm a little concerned at this point. serena is so intimidating, and this has got to be a lift to sharapova. this match, normally a wimbledon final starts precisely at 2:00. it's almost 20 after for this olympic championship match. >> mary, first service games are

key for both of them. we've talked about how important the serving is. and being such great servers, they want to start out serving welch there's nothing worse than coming out and losing your opening service game. and again, very breezy today. >> she sure has a better wind serve than sharapova, hasn't she? >> well, the ball toss isn't quite as high as maria's. it's a little more efficient, her service motion, than maria's is. >> you've been watching this all week, haven't you, renee? >> i just marvel. as we see team williams. mother, sister, coach mary jo

fernandez. very present all week. >> wow. a love hold to start this match. at stake is this. both with a chance to win a golden slam. steffi graf did it in 1997. her husband did it in 1996. he won in atlanta and then andre agassi, of course, got his fourth major, the one that maria sharapova was missing, the french open. rafa nadal has done it as well. nadal, the only top player missing from these olympic championships. >> getting that gold medal is what you would call the icing on the cake for both of these two.

>> well, talk about the tale of two service motions and situations. maria sharapova has kind of cruised, but that match against lisicki was a heartbreaker for lisicki and a heart stopper for the russian. in that particular match, a nushl of double fau number of double faults from the racket of sharapova and not the way she wants to start today. in this tournament, sharapova has hit 30 aces to serena williams's 50, but 25 double

faults to two for serena. >> earlier in the day, the roof was closed over this centre court. how much more would sharapova have preferred that it stay closed? avoid all this wind. >> i think so for her serve. but the problem she faces, that serena has been very public in saying it is the ultimate court for her, indoor grass. >> worked for roger federer last month, too, didn't itso somit? winning his 17th title. seventh wimbledon. and he'll be facing the wimbledon finalist from last month, andy murray. that's tomorrow morning, 9:00 eastern on nbc.

serena williams a three-time olympic medalist. twice in the doubles, gold with her sister, and a gold in singles. and they're still in the doubles. >> she's pretty golden at the olympics. >> wow. eight straight points for williams. >> sharapova group looking almost stunned. in the women's doubles, speaking of the williams sisters,

hradecka bewon. they had them down, they really should have won that match, they scraped out of that one and won their fifth wimbledon doubles title. >> they'll play that semi later today. rain has wreaked just a bit of havoc this week. first point for sharapova. look what she has done to this draw, beating former world number one jankovic. >> former world number two. current world number one. it's incredible.

>> 50 aces. half the amount she hit at wimbledon, but still dominant from the baseline. 141 winners. only 57 unforced errors. and excuse me, 16 games lost only to get to a final of an olympics. the best players in the world and serena took them apart. the chance here, though, for sharapova. 0-30. >> victoria azarenka faced all of this yesterday in the semis against serena. the nice news for her, she took the bronze earlier today against

maria kirilenko and was absolutely thrilled by it. >> this is the difference between serena and the rest, the serving. her ability to be able to serve out of any trouble. i marvel at the ability for her to be able to step up to the line and hit any single spot in the service box with the same toss. >> serena can play better

defense, can't she? >> that's exactly right. i was thinking during that point, this is also another reason why the tipping balance is on serena's favor because she moves so much better than maria does. >> so, from 0-30, game point williams. wow. five aces already from the wimbledon champion. ♪ [ male announcer ] robert griffin iii was a world-class hurdler and when training, he runs to subway for a protein packed turkey breast.

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so far, in this very brief first set, maria sharapova has managed two points in three games. >> and if you're maria in this situation, you think, okay, what's my game? i'm a big server, i hit the ball huge from the baseline, i'm doing all of that, and i'm getting whipped. outmatched in every part of the facet of the game today. >> that had to feel pretty good.

104 miles an hour. >> mary jo fernandez, two-time gold medalist in doubles at the olympics, so she knows how it feels to go out there and represent your country. always analyzing, even when she's in the player box.

>> she's got to open up these points right away, hasn't she? a familiar face this week at wimbledon. >> yeah, it's the lucky charm. she's probably thinking maybe i should leave right about now because it's not working. chelsea handler. >> it may take something like that to happen for maria sharapova to win a game at this point. safe to say she'd take this one. >> her first game point. >> oh, sorry. not really. >> off a let court.

>> oh, boy. another double.

>> i mean, the return is so deep. it was a good serve from sharapova. but by the time she's come out of her service motion, the ball is already on top of her on the baseline. they played one time in miami in 2007, and maria got absolutely killed. one and one by serena. she said what am i supposed to do when every ball is one inch from the baseline? she's probably starting to feel like that right now. >> she's lost the last six matches, sharapova, against serena williams. and serena has inflicted upon maria some of the worst losses of her career. serena referring to the court

there -- we've talked so much about the fact that these courts were able to come back together again just weeks after wimbledon, where they were scarred up and turned into dirt along the baseline. >> well, they're back there. >> pregerminated seeds to get them ready for the olympics. >> everybody needs a greens keeper like that, right? >> john mcenroe was out here yesterday watching the men's semis, and he said this grass seemed to him to be quicker, slicker. >> it has been. that's the one thing i've

noticed from the very beginning of this tournament is how quick the court seems compared to what it is at wimbledon. and i'm not quite sure why that is. maybe because it's been played on a lot more and the grass is shorter, not quite as long. but it definitely has favored good serving. >> game williams. williams leads four games to love. >> this is a master class being given on grass court tennis from serena williams. at wimbledon, this was day one. this is what it looked like. we all marvelled at how they were able to do this just weeks after wimbledon.

at just one week on, here's what it looks like. i'm going to guess the grounds crew is going to take monday off. >> well, that's what it looks like when you get your backyard perfect, and you have a wedding or a party and then after the party, that's what it looks like. and we've had quite the party here this week, mary. the atmosphere has been unbelievable at olympic tennis. >> will and kate doing the wave. music concerts. it's been marvelous. >> and the crowds very patriotic. a little bit different to what they are at wimbledon. because at wimbledon they're so behaved and refined. and we've got olympic fans here throughout this week and they've been very vocal.

>> you've got to love this. they had a chance -- they've been everywhere, will and kate. joining in on the wave. royalty. >> well, you know, mary, that was on court one. they probably didn't even know where to go because there's no royal box on court one. >> and they've been invited to the royal box here at wimbledon and they've opted to go into the stands. with the commoners. boy, they are enjoying themselves. what a new fresh face royalty has been given. right from the opening ceremony where the queen participated in that remarkable james bond moment. wow. sharapova has to loosen up her shoulders and go for the lines, doesn't she? >> absolutely. she's only going to get a chance once in a while in a point to

really step in because serena is hitting the ball so deep. and when serena is getting her first serve in, she's virtually unbeatable. 91% already against one of the best returners we've ever seen. >> you're telling me, renee, that serena is serving like roger federer this week. i mean, same amount of bite, same miles an hour often? >> at times, the same service speed. >> wow. there's a challenge from sharapova, hoping this one missed long. >> i think this might be prolonging the inevitable. 117 miles an hour. oh, she's got this one right.

>> and the first double fault for serena williams. >> the wind is really playing havoc down that end. we saw this yesterday. serena almost refusing to serve until she really feels it. she knows how important that first serve is. some players would almost just throw the first serve in with the wind, but serena, no. >> this is going by in a hurry. serena williams now 5-0.

serena williams up 5-0 in this gold medal match. it's impossible at this point to imagine that she's not going to win gold here today. singles gold for the first time. it would seem it would take a horrendous case of nerves on serena williams's part to lose control of this. >> the serving not at its best today for sharapova. the first serve percentage down at 57%, and for her to even have a chance against serena, i think

it's got to be at least high 70s so she can start the point out on the aggressive side. >> jorge posada, new york yankee longtime catcher. he's watching on. you've had all kinds of celebrities here this week. >> olympic tennis. it's been the hot ticket. >> it's going to be hard to get a ticket for tomorrow. the men's final, roger federer and andy murray. another chance for sharapova to get on the board. get a little bit of traction going into set two.

there's oncourt coaching all allowed, and her coach is always telling her -- she'll joke talking about her opponents. >> i don't know about that. >> serena won't. >> again, the end that maria is serving from, the wind coming tr behind her. that's almost more difficult. >> wow. what a return. >> serena's ability to be able to generate power from literally turning her shoulders and letting the racket go, a lot of people -- well, most players have to step in, lean in to the ball to get their power, but serena just literally, all arm

and timing. >> that serve off the line, and serena dismisses it like it's nothing. nothing. >> it's hard to describe how good serena williams is. routine.

>> she doesn't want to lose a game, serena. she doesn't want to lose a game. >> the last time -- the last two times that these two played, serena won 6-1, 6-3. so maybe she's trying to better that score line and get a 6-0 set. >> in terms of marquee names,

this is the best women's olympic final since steffi graf and gabriella sabbatini met in seoul. these fans here are begging sharapova to win one game. she's got another chance. >> i don't know if you can hear it at home, but the wind is pretty tough out there. secretly, i think both players were hoping it would rain so they would close the roof with this windy conditions.

>> third double fault, but i just get the feeling that maria knows she has to go for it the second serve, or it's going to be down her throat. >> let me ask you this. have you ever seen serena play more dominating tennis than

she's shown at the olympics this year? >> i'm sure if i think back on some of the grand slams that she's won, she has, but not for a while. this is dominance at its absolute best. >> it's also set point. >> well, they love cricket in this country, and i think the person who tried to catch that ball won't make the cricket team.

>> 6-0 in this gold medal match. 6-0 for serena williams. 6-0. it's something you're born with. and inspires the things you choose to do. you do what you do... because it matters. at hp we don't just believe in the power of technology. we believe in the power of people when technology works for you. to dream. to create. to work. if you're going to do something. make it matter.

the first set of this championship match took 30 minutes. 30. >> we talk about first set highlights and illustrating them. one way, street highlights for serena williams. every single return deep into the court. sharapova on the defense, even on serve. we saw it over and over again, winners like this right on the line. 28 points to 12.

seven aces. all the numbers favor very heavily serena williams. and of course, the three breaks of serve. not one break point against serena williams in that first set. total dominance. >> a pretty bad stat against maria in this occasion, having lost that first set. serena is 64-1 when she wins the first set. the only loss in 2001 against now hall of famer and former olympic singles gold medalist jennifer capriati. that's going back a long way, mary. >> yeah, 2004, a quarterfinal right here.

>> maria is such a competitor, though. you know of all the people in the world, she's not going to give up, even when faced with the barrage that she is facing right now against serena. >> she's got great fighting qualities, and normally, not today, she's very intimidating. only i think justine henin, the great belgian player, had those qualities that both serena and maria possess. look at that.

from beyond the baseline, a cold winner. >> serena possesses just lel le of power as well. i feel like she has every gear there is. she knows when to step up and hit fifth gear. >> we did see her suffer with some nerves in some matches in the last year, something that a lot of players go through in the latter stages of their career. >> yes. i think that at some point, we get to a stage in our career, the older we get, we understand the importance of every grand slam. it only comes around four times a year on the tour. >> and the olympics coming around only every four years. >> exactly. but today, it's a different serena. we saw at the u.s. open, she was very emotionally volatile

against sam stosur. she hadn't had the tennis going back at the end of last year, and then at the french open this year, fell apart emotionally in the first round, was crying on the court after losing the second set. couldn't handle all the anxiety. but something happened, mary, second week of wimbledon. the old serena came back. and she has been unbeatable since that moment. >> well, serena was the overwhelming favorite against radwanska in the wimbledon final last month and her nerves did show a bit before she self-corrected. she struggles only, it seems,

against people where she's the overwhelming favorite, like sam stosur. like the first round of the french open this year. >> the difference is her serving was nowhere near where it is right now. >> and you know, what i've long said about women's tennis, the best server wins the title. >> that's dominance. i mean, these are the best players in the world, and serena's routinely scoring 6-0 victories in sets. >> she's got something to prove, doesn't she? she has got a point to prove. that when she's fit, when she's committed, when she wants something, nobody and nothing can stop her.

>> like yesterday against azarenka, this is turning into a nightmare for russian maria sharapova. so many things going on in her mind right now, what to do, where do i go with this serve, what do i do with the first shot, and at some point, it's over before you even a chance to implement any of it. venus is saying this is exactly the plan. we've got some doubles to take care of later on.

>> well, maria was so proud a week ago to come to the opening ceremony and get to be the flag bearer for the russian federation. you know, she's lived in the u.s. for so long. from the time she was 7. first moved to florida. now spends time in l.a. as well. we kind of think of her as the all-american girl from siberia. but she was very, very proud to carry that flag. she has already won a medal for russia. >> so many of the tennis players got to carry the flag out for their countries. novak djokovic, of course. radwanska, wimbledon finalist.

wawrinka was kind of given the flag by federer. >> federer was offered the flag. and rafa nadal was supposed to be carrying it for spain. and unfortunately, not only could rafa not make this tournament, but he's already pulled out of a tournament starting in the states when this is over. so we can only hope that his knees get better as the u.s. open looms at the end of august. said having to pull out of these games, he's the defending champion from beijing, the hardest thing he's ever had to do. devastating for him. >> mary, i said a couple weeks ago when i was asked why serena would go to stanford to play that tournament after wimbledon, and the turnaround for her was zero. she had to fly there, play a

match. she came back to play in the olympics. i said i think she has one goal. well, maybe two. to win this gold medal and also to get back the number one ranking in the world. i think that's well and truly on her mind. >> she's number four in the world right now, but serena williams is playing for all the world like there's no one even close to her.

serena williams a two-time gold medalist in doubles with her sister venus, looking for her first gold medal in singles. she's only three games away. nifty little catch from a fan in the stands. >> they'll take him on the cricket team. but again, devastating power straight back against sharapova. no time to react, mary. absolutely zero. it's almost like the better she serves, the harder the return back. >> she's robbing herself of time by hitting it big. >> exactly.