Mirnyi, Azarenka win mixed gold for Belarus

Belarus’ Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka won mixed doubles gold medals on Sunday with a 2-6, 6-3, 10/8 victory over Britain’s Andy Murray and Laura Robson. Murray had already claimed the men’s singles gold by thrashing Roger Federer but fell just short of a magnificent double as the Belarussians won 2-6 6-3 10-8. Roared on by a patriotic crowd still buzzing from Murray’s exploits, the British pair bounded into an early lead, taking the first set comfortably. The Belarusian top seeds hit back to take the second, however, to set up a tense championship tie-break. Mirnyi and Azarenka, who won bronze in the women’s singles, moved 9-6 ahead and although the British pair saved two match points Azarenka’s sharp volley claimed Belarus’s first gold medal in Olympics tennis. “It’s definitely very different emotions and a very different accomplishment from being No 1 in the world and winning the Australian Open,” Azarenka told reporters.