Rio 2016: Mattek-Sands, Sock win tennis mixed doubles

Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jack Sock won gold in an all-American mixed tennis doubles final at the Olympic Games on Sunday.

The duo overcame compatriots Venus Williams and Rajeev Ram 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 10-7 on the hard courts of the Olympic Tennis Centre in Brazil.

A dramatic conclusion to the contest saw Sock successfully lob Ram to earn a second mini break and make it 6-6 in the match tie-break, Ram then netting his second serve to double fault as he and Williams fell further behind.

Sock and Mattek-Sands promptly held twice to make it 9-6, the latter producing an exceptional volley to escape a body shot from Williams and bring up four gold medal points.

Sock sent a strong forehand attempt long with the first but Williams, having done well to get an attempted lob back into play, then netted a return from Sock's deep forehand to hand her opponents the victory.

Earlier, Williams and Ram won the first set in thrilling fashion, coming from 4-3 down before breaking their opponents twice in a tie-break to win the opener.

Mattek-Sands and Sock hit back decisively, breaking their opponents twice in successive service games and saving break point twice to send the final to a match tie-break.

It was a first Olympic medal for Mattek-Sands, while Sock had earlier won bronze in the men's doubles alongside Steve Johnson.

Earlier, Czechs Lucie Hradecka and Radek Stepanek defeated Indian duo Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna 6-1 7-5 in the bronze medal match.