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Bob and Mike Bryan won the Olympic gold medal in men's doubles.
© Phil Walter/Getty Images
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Serena Williams of the United States defeated world no. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the gold medal match versus Russia's Maria Sharapova.
© Martin Bernetti/Getty Images
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WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Serena Williams has earned a berth in the Olympic final, beating No. 1-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-2.
On Saturday, Williams will face first-time Olympian Maria Sharapova, who beat Russian teammate Maria Kirilenko in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-3.
Williams has lost only 16 games through five rounds and has won 12 consecutive matches this summer at the All-England Club, including her fifth Wimbledon title a month ago.
She teamed with sister Venus to win the gold medal in doubles in 2000 and 2008. They had a chance to clinch at least a silver in a semifinal match scheduled later Friday.
Williams has won 14 Grand Slam singles championships, the most of any active woman.
In earlier action, Mike and Bob Bryan are also assured of at least a silver medal at the Olympics. The top-seeded American pair defeated Julien Benneteau and Richard Gasquet of France, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals of men's doubles at Wimbledon on Friday.
The Bryans must next play another French duo to capture the gold in second-seeded Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who defeated Spain's David Ferrer and Marc Lopez 6-3, 4-6, 18-16.
The Bryans won bronze in Beijing in 2008.