IT will be an intriguing clash for the Gold Medal in the Olympics 2020 women’s tennis, with Marketa Vondrousova and Belinda Bencic making their way into the Tokyo final following respective victories and earning definite medal chances as they proceed.

While Vondrousova had the expected tougher opponent in fourth seed Elina Monfils, the highest remaining seed left in the draw, it was a speedy victory for the Czech talent who had already taken down Naomi Osaka just a couple days earlier. But it was a 64-minute, 6-3 6-1 blitz over Monfils that earned Vondrousova her full ride to the final, firing on all cylinders to become the first Czech woman to reach the Olympics singles finals.

“I was thinking that [to win] two or three matches would have been great, and then I beat Naomi so then I thought that I was playing well and that maybe I could even do better,” Vondrousova said. “I’m now just happy to be in the final. It’s an amazing feeling.

“I can’t believe it. Maybe it’ll sink in later. This is amazing, even if it’s silver or gold, it’s amazing and I’m just very proud.”

With a 69 per cent win rate off her first serve and backing it up on her second, Vondrousova was far cleaner than her Ukrainian opposition, also winning 54 per cent of the return points throughout. But while Vondrousova was excellent, Monfils was not her usual self with 29 unforced errors to her name and just eight winners.

“It’s an amazing feeling to represent my country in the bronze medal match but I’m really disappointed today,” Monfils said. “I tried my best but I expected to go further.

“Unfortunately there are other players who are playing well. It’s extremely tough and it didn’t happen today.

“Marketa played really well, a very solid performance and I couldn’t find my best tennis today and everything came together for her.”

In the second semi-final, it came down to who could outlast the other in a tough three-setter, as Bencic overcame Kazakh talent Elena Rybakina 7-6(2) 4-6 6-3. It was a huge day for Bencic as she secured not only one, but two medals in the sport, as her doubles pairing alongside Viktorija Golubic also earned a finals berth – becoming just the fifth player to do so since 1988.

“This is for sure the best day [of my career], of course,” Bencic said. “This is the biggest result I have reached so far – and the biggest result in doubles. To do it both in the same day, it’s for sure the best result.

“I don’t really want this dream to stop – we were talking about maybe we wake up tomorrow and none of this happened and we’re going to be sad! But it’s reality. We’re super-happy.”

Rybakina was uncharacteristically error-ridden throughout the clash, hitting more winners (24-18) and aces (14-5), but piling up 89 errors – 49 forced, 40 unforced – to Bencic’s 66 throughout the three-setter. The majority of Bencic’s errors came on serve, piling up 12 double faults, but she recovered well to speed home in the third, cleaning up her act to claim the final berth.

“Right now I think it’s the emotions that get me through, it’s the positivity. It’s really this high. Now is definitely not the time to stop. I’m not going to jinx it – we go, we go. It’s not done yet. We still will have some energy for the finals.”

“My emotions right now… it’s too high,” Bencic admitted. “To have a medal, it’s the greatest thing. Even to be here as an athlete, in the Olympics, it’s amazing.

“To have a medal, it’s something I dreamed of, and I didn’t think it would become reality. I’m beyond relieved and happy.”

OLYMPICS WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) defeated [4] Elina Monfils (UKR) 6-3 6-1
[9] Belinda Bencic (SUI) defeated [15] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) 7-6 4-6 6-3