Olympics: Murray Beats Federer To Gold Glory

Andy Murray has claimed tennis glory at last, beating arch-rival Roger Federer in straight sets to win Olympic gold.

The resounding 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory was sweet revenge for Murray's heartbreaking loss to the Swiss in the Wimbledon final exactly one month ago.

Murray returned to court shortly after his gold medal match to claim silver in the mixed doubles alongside teammate Laura Robson.

The Team GB duo lost to gold medal winners Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi from Belarus 2-6, 6-3, 10-8.

Meanwhile, on the track, Christine Ohuruogu won silver in the women's 400-metres behind gold medal winner Sanya Richards-Ross of the United States.

And at the cycling, Great Britain's Ed Clancy has won a bronze medal in the men's omnium, with Denmark's Lasse Hansen taking gold.

The fresh results came after Ben Ainslie clinched his fourth straight gold and fifth Games medal overall, making him the most successful sailor in Olympic history.

Moments before Murray's win, gymnasts Louis Smith and Matt Whitlock also took silver and bronze in the men's pommel horse.

Murray climbed into the players' box to embrace his family and girlfriend Kim Sears as he became the first Briton to win a men's singles gold medal since 1908.

"It's number one for me," the 25-year-old told the BBC. "The biggest win of my life. This week's been incredible so far.

"I've had a lot of fun, the support's been amazing. One more match to go, but it's been unbelievable."

Murray said he was inspired both by the performances of his Great Britain team-mates and the crowd, who were unusually boisterous for SW19.

"They're unbelievable," he said. "It's not just here but all of the events I've watched. I watched the athletics last night it was amazing."

Murray had little time to celebrate, however, as he was due back on court for the final of the mixed doubles with Laura Robson.

Ainslie, 35, earned his historic gold by coming ninth in the Finn class medals race in front of thousands of supporters at Weymouth, many of them waving Union Jacks.

All he had to do was finish ahead of Denmark's Jonas Hoegh-Christensen, who led the regatta from Race 1. The Dane finished 10th and took the silver.

As he crossed the finish line, Ainslie pumped both fists, then stood up and pumped them again.

"I am pretty speechless," he said. "It has been a tough week. There was amazing competition, especially from Jonas Hogh-Christensen from Denmark, but this was the time to do it in front of a home crowd.

"I am just so glad for all the people that supported me over the years, all the people that came here to wave me on and all the people that have written in and supported us across the country."

Ainslie replaced Denmark's Paul Elvstrom as the most successful Olympian sailor ever. Elvstrom won four straight golds from 1948-60, including three in the Finn class.

Shortly before Ainslie's triumph Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson won silver in the Star class.

The pair, who were defending the title they won at Beijing, were beaten by Sweden's Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen.

Percy and Simpson needed to finish sixth or better to make it two golds in a row but could only manage eighth.

There were joyful scenes at the North Greenwich Arena after Smith and Whitlock's success in the pommel horse, watched by the Duchess of Cambridge.

Smith, who had been one of the favourites to win gold, was narrowly beaten by arch-rival Krisztian Berki from Hungary.

The pair had the same number of points - 16.066 - but Berki's routine was deemed by the judges to be more difficult.

It was the second medal of the Games for both Smith, 23, and Whitlock, 19, after they won bronze in the all around team competition on Tuesday.

Smith, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, also won a bronze on the pommel in Beijing four years ago.

London 2012 boss Lord Coe said Saturday was the "the greatest night of British athletics" ever as Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford claimed three gold medals within 45 minutes of one another.

It followed the three golds and silver captured earlier by GB's rowers and track cyclists, making it the country's best day for gold medals in over 100 years.

The BBC has revealed that 17.1m viewers in the UK watched Farah win the 10,000 metres, while 16.3m saw Ennis's triumph in the hepatahlon.

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