8.05pm: It’s been an absolutely sensational tournament and all our medallists have been more than worthy winners. We hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage and we’ll be back here again in four years time in 2012 in London. Until then, goodnight from Beijing. Over and out.

GOLD MEDAL RAFAEL NADAL

Nadal 6-3 Gonzalez 
Nadal is the Olympic champion!  He wins 63 76(2) 63 in two hours 22, and he's been by far the best player of the week in Beijing.  It took him four match points, and he finished it on an in-to-out forehand that Gonzalez could only net, Nadal falling flat on his back in celebration.  He's already in the history books as one of the greatest-ever claycourters for his four French Open titles, but with the Wimbledon and Olympic titles, he's now edging towards being one of the all-time greatest tennis players.  This is the peak of his career, and he's a worthy champion!

Nadal 5-3 Gonzalez
The level of tennis has risen sharply as Gonzalez throws his last at Nadal.  Gonzo saved three match points in that game, but he has to pull something very special out of the hat now.

Nadal 5-2 Gonzalez
Nadal on the brink, but he had to come back from 15-40 as Gonzalez threatened to make a real fight of this third set.  A few rain clouds are gathering - please please please let it not rain until this match is over!

Nadal 4-2 Gonzalez
It looks a lost cause but the South American is still fighting.  Another game won from 15-40 down, and on one point he pummelled a short smash into the concrete just to make the point that this was one shot Nadal was not going to get back.

Nadal 4-1 Gonzalez
It's becoming a procession, and Gonzalez is starting to look as if it's not worth the effort any more.  Nadal holds to love, to make it 10 points on the run.

Nadal 3-1 Gonzalez
It was probably inevitable, but Rafa has broken.  His speed is just phenomenal, Gonzalez can only get through him when he plays his forehand at full power to absolute precision.  He didn't, and Rafa broke to love on a nonchallant crosscourt backhand pass.

Nadal 2-1 Gonzalez
Nadal glides to a 2-1 lead, holding to 15.  Nothing seems to faze the man - just as Gonzalez must have felt good about saving those two break points Nadal puts him under the gun again.

Nadal 1-1 Gonzalez
Great game for Gonzalez - he was 15-40 down after three awful forehands, but fought his way back to level with four points on the run.  That's fighting spirit from the man who is refusing to lie down.  Good on him.

Nadal 1-0 Gonzalez
Nadal holds to 15, Gonzalez starting the set with a forehand unforced error - not good, and the Chilean looking a little resigned.  Needs a good service game now.  

SECOND SET 

Nadal 7-6 (7-2) Gonzalez
Nadal's got it, 7-2 the tiebreak score, 100 minutes played.  The man is relentless - he makes virtually no mistakes, and only the massive Gonzalez forehands are keeping the Chilean in it.  Having missed those two set points, Gonz has to be careful this third set doesn't slide away very quickly.

Nadal in control at 4-2 - a beautiful serve-volley manoeuvre takes him to within three points of a two-sets lead.

Nadal 6-6 Gonzalez
Golden opportunity wasted by Fernando!  He had two set points, on the first he had Rafa out of position but put the backhand volley just wide; on the second he netted a forehand.  The point that took Nadal to the tiebreak was sublime.  What a match, but has Gonzo's chance gone?

Nadal 5-6 Gonzalez
Anything Rafa can do, Gonz can match right now. A zippy ace to nail that game without the Mallorcan muscleman getting on the scorecard. The lead again for FG.

Nadal 5-5 Gonzalez 
2 aces from RN and we are back on level terms people.  

Nadal 4-5 Gonzalez
FG is one game away from taking the second set. Yes, he’s gotta break the Spaniards serve which is about as likely as me beating Usain Bolt over 30metres, but hey, its only four points isn’t it.

Nadal 4-4 Gonzalez
Drop volley from Rafa, whose got softer hands than a new born baby whose just had a bath. Service game to love.

Nadal 3-4 Gonzalez
Pacey ace from Fernando to clean up that game and continues his nudge forward. Slightly more positive signs?

Nadal 3-3 Gonzalez
Rafa giving Gonz no chance to unleash that booming forehand of his, pushing him deep and wide onto his backhand. His length is immaculate, his spin, fizzing. He's making it v v hard for the South American.

Nadal 2-3 Gonzalez 
Gonz holding firm and has the air of a man on a mission. This would be the perfect time to make a move.

Nadal 2-2 Gonzalez 
In England we have an expression, ‘shelling peas’. It means when something is easy. On his serve, this for RF is the aforementioned vegetable analogy.

Nadal 1-2 Gonzalez 
No need to get the hearse yet though. Gonz shows why he's the world No. 15 and bags that one, no dramas.  

Nadal 1-1 Gonzalez 
Nadal doesn’t need to be on top form at the moment, he’s got Fernando in his back pocket. Gonz’s black headband looks a tad morbid and if he keeps sticking simple backhands into the net like that, he really is dead and buried. 

Nadal 0-1 Gonzalez
Nice bit of consolidation from Gonz, which was desperately needed. He takes the lead for the first time in 46 mins of play.

FIRST SET

Nadal 6-2 Gonzalez 
Gonz was four metres behind baseline with Rafa driving him back, back, back. Then a sensational drop shot and Gonz gets there on about the third bounce. First set Raf.

Nadal 5-2 Gonzalez
Again, Gonz had to give it his all in that game to get the result he wanted. He’s a real bag of liquorice allsorts in this first set. That game was a classic example. An ace, two unforced errors and a backhand winner. Make of that what you will. 

Nadal 5-2 Gonzalez
Service game to love including a sizzling run around forehand winner from the guns from Majorca. He’s in such good shape right now isn’t he.

Nadal 4-2 Gonzalez
Another long service game for Gonz and its mission accomplished. Hard, hard work that.

Nadal 4-1 Gonzalez 
You just get the feeling that Fernando is going to have to play the match of his life to get anything out of this. I suppose he’s safe in the knowledge that worse case scenario he’s got a silver, which is still very much something to tell the grand kids about.  Regulation service game from RF.

Nadal 3-1 Gonzalez
That’s better from Gonz. Holds serve to love and he’s off the dreaded bagel.

Nadal 3-0 Gonzalez
More worrying signs for the world No. 15. He has to work so hard to win a point and does get a couple there, but Nadal still holds reasonably comfortably. Slight sweat on for Rafa, but not really. Gonz thought will be sweating at the thought of what’s ahead.

Nadal 2-0 Gonzalez
That is exactly the start the Chilean didn’t want. Bullying him off his feet, Rafa has already opened up a nice lead.

Nadal 1-0 Gonzalez
RF, in the same kit he has worn all week, comes out all guns blazing. Perfect start by the incumbent world No. 1.

5.30pm: Rafa wins the toss of the coin, serves and we are underway. As expected, it's a full house on Centre Court and the excitement is at fever pitch. Wicked atmosphere here.

5.25pm: There are records being broken all over the shop here in Beijing and genuine historic moments being made. Michael Phelps and his 8 gold medals, Usain Bolt and his 9.69 seconds for the 100m, and of course our very own Roger Federer and his gold last night. Can Rafa do the same?

5.15pm: Right, we’ve had our appetisers, lets get fully stuck into the main course. Rafa and Fernando are due on any minute.  Read our 'Match of the Day' feature to get all the background info. 

5.04pm: The red carpet has been rolled out and the ceremony is taking place. The Russian girls all look great lined up in their team tracksuits. Shamil Tarpischev, the Fed Cup captain, will present the medals to Elena, Dinara and Vera. Russia - gold, silver, and bronze. The rousing Russian National Anthem blasts out of the stadium. It's got the hairs up on the back of my neck, so what must it be like for those girls? Love it.

4.50pm: GOLD MEDAL SERENA and VENUS WILLIAMS 

The sisters in a different league to the Spanish. Yes they were favourites, but still it’s a wonderful effort from them, 6-2 6-0 in just over an hour. They both threw their rackets as high as they could and embraced like only sisters can. What a moment they can share for the rest of their lives and with their whole family. Special times.

4.47pm: GOLD MEDAL ELENA DEMENTIEVA

She’s done it! Elena falls to her knees after nailing a forehand down the line after a deep serve. Big hug from her compartiart Safina. Elena Dementieva, Olympic Gold. It's got a certain ring to it and will sound even better to her. Huge smile, huge relief, huge achievement.

4.42pm: Couple of tears from Dinara as she loses her serve and its 5-3 Elena. Can she get those elusive four points and bring home the bacon? 

4.39pm: Spanish supporters are doing the congo on Court 1, whilst Medina gets looked at. Venus and Serna are playing ‘shadow tennis’. If someone turned the TV on, you’d wonder what on earth was going happening?!?! Bizarre happenings.  

4.35pm: 3-0 Williams and the Spaniards have got the trainer on. Medina’s hammy is playing up and the magic spray is out. They need something David Blaine-esque to get back in this one.  

4.31pm: One back for Dinara and its 4-2...and there's another, 4-3. She'll be serving to bring back on level terms. Digging ever so deep is the dark haired Russian.

4.24pm: Elena has a bit of breathing space and opened up a 4-1 lead in the battle of the Russians. What’s Safina got left in the tank? Can she respond? Let's just see.

4.21pm: More attempted moon balls from the Spaniards and quite clearly its not working. Venus has those for breakfast and in her sleep. First set Williams girls 6-2. 

4.15pm: Dinara broken back and Elena looks more distraught than a kid whose just had her favourite toy broken on Christmas Day. 2-1 Elena.

4.10pm: Safina tightening up. Elena has broken serve and it’s 2-0. This one could be a battle of who can keep their nerves.  

4.04pm: William’s girls, dressed in completely different gear, are 4-1 up in the first set. The Spanish ‘moon’ balls don’t phase these legends of the game, they’ve seen it all. The Americans are playing with smiles on their faces and having a whale of a time. Good vibes on Court 1.  

3.53pm: We have a final set n the gold medal match, and what was going through Safina's head on Dementieva's third set point?  After saving two with some good tennis, Safina played a senseless dropshot from well behind the baseline - it went into the tramlines but would have been hit for a winner anyway.  A real rush of blood to Safina's head, and it might cost her dear.  

3.51pm: It's getting tight in the gold medal match.  Safina had break points at 5-5 but Dementieva saved them.  Dementieva then had two set points at 6-5 but Safina has saved them.  They're still in the 12th game of the set  The Williamses have split the first two games against Ruano and Medina - the Spaniards' tactics of moonballing will be severely tested against women's tennis's most aggressive competitors.

3.39pm: Safina's anger was certainly turned to good use - she won three games on the run to get back to 4-4, but she's serving to stay in it now at 4-5.  When Dementieva really connects, she looks the likelier winner, but she's making too many errors.  Normally it's Safina who's going for broke.  

3.33pm: Here come the Williams sisters on Court 1 for the women’s doubles final. They really do impose themselves on court don’t they and Medina/Ruano of Spain are going to have to be right on it, if they want that premium prize.  

3.28pm: BRONZE MEDAL YAN ZI and ZHENG JIE

China has won one tennis medal!  Yan and Zheng have beaten the Bondarenko sisters 62 62 to give the home nation one appearance on the rostrum.  They had hoped for more, especially after gold in Athens, but it hasn't been a bad tennis event for the Chinese, and they have a fantastic facility here in Beijing in which to develop new talent.

3.19pm: BRONZE MEDAL VERA ZVONAREVA.

Vera Zvonareva has defeated Li Na 60 75.  Characteristically the match ended on a Li error, her backhand going way beyond Zvonareva's baseline to ensure the singles rostrum will be an all-Russian affair.  Dementieva leads Safina 4-1 in the second set, and Safina is getting angry - just as well she doesn't have her brother's habit of smashing rackets.

3.07pm: I should know better than to write off Li.  She saved several break points that would have given Zvonareva a 5-3 lead, but now she leads 5-4 and Zvonareva has the pressure on her.  On Centre Dementieva leads 2-1 but with Safina serving. 

3.05pm: Yan/Zheng are eyeing up that doubles bronze. They are 3-1 up in the second set versus the Ukrainian sisters.  

2.55pm: Looks like Li's fightback has fizzled out.  She's lost three games on the run and Zvonareva is now two games away from the bronze.

2.48pm: First set to Safina 63.  She looked sluggish at the start and the thought occurred to me that she may have been feeling all the tennis she's played in the last few days, but she's striking the ball superbly, and driving through Dementieva.  Is she on the verge of her first big title?  

2.42pm: There's one other match happening today, it's out on court 2 and it's providing better news for China.  Yan and Zheng have taken the first set against the Bondarenko sisters 62, so China has one hand on a bronze medal.  And possibly two, as Li leads Zvonareva 3-1 second set. 

2.40pm: I've just been watching a bit of the Zvonareva-Li match just to see what's going wrong for the Chinese woman.  She's certainly trying, and she's doing better in the second set, as she's broken to lead 2-1.  But she's hitting a lot of shots off the frame.  When club players do that, they can comfort themselves with the thought that they've paid more for the frame than for the strings, but the likes of Li get their rackets and strings free.  Meanwhile on Centre, Safina leads Dementieva 5-2.  

2.30pm: Throughout her press conference yesterday after losing to Safina, Li Na kept saying "I don't want to think about the Olympics now, it's over."  I wonder whether she is therefore mentally absent from the bronze medal match on Court 1 because she's yet to win a game.  Zvonareva has just taken the first set 6-0 in just 19 minutes.  Very strange, but it means the issue I raised at 2.07pm almost certainly won't arise.

2.26pm: If you just heard a loud scream, it was Dinara Safina getting frustrated with herself.  She is making all sorts of errors, and is lucky to be only 2-1 down after three games against the serve.  It's an error-strewn match so far, and after missing a forehand Safina screamed so loud it could probably be heard back in Moscow.

2.21pm: Vera in a rush to get somewhere. The Russian is 4-0 up against Li Na in 12 minutes! 

2.16pm: First blood to Elena, she has broken Safina in the opening game.  At this stage the podium looks like being an entirely Russian affair as Zvonareva leads Li 2-0 on Court 1, but we've got used to Li's powers of hanging in after a slow start. 

2.12pm: Safina and Dementieva are warming up on Centre.  Safina has the better record in their head-to-head, but I wonder whether Dementieva is going to prove the greater Olympian.  Dementieva's in predominantly white, but with a flash of blue across her shoulders and the word 'Russia' emblazoned across her back which we can see well because her hair is today in a knot rather than ponytail.  Safina doesn't have the word 'Russia' on her back, even though she also enjoys playing Fed Cup matches for her country.  She's in a white shirt and black skirt with white hem, and her hair is in a plait.

2.07pm: Because of the rain we've had this week, we have matches on three courts, which raises an interesting logistical question: what happens to the medal ceremony if the women's gold/silver medal match, which begins in a couple of minutes on Centre Court, finishes in two sets, while the bronze medal playoff, which also begins in a couple of minutes on Court 1, goes to three?  Do they then delay the medal ceremony until after the men's final?  We will see.

1.50pm: 'Ni Hao' from the Olympic Tennis Centre for the last time! 

At least we assume it's the last time - I guess that's dependent on our getting everything played today.  The weather is pleasant, milky sunshine though we had a few drops of rain during the morning (it was threatening to rain as the women's marathon runners ran past our hotel at 9.20 this morning).  The forecast is for showers this evening, so Elena, Dinara, Rafa and Fernando, no delays between points please - we want exciting matches, but quick ones!