Rio de Janeiro: Serena and Venus Williams were deposed as Olympic Games women&rsquo;s doubles champions on Sunday, their hopes of a fourth gold dashed by Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova in the first round.
<img title="Venus (left) and Serena Williams" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/aug/9Serena-Williams-1.jpg" alt="Venus (left) and Serena Williams" /> Venus (left) and Serena Williams
It was the sisters&rsquo; first loss as a doubles team at the Games, having won 15 previous matches together, taking the title in 2000, 2008 and 2012. Just a day after 36-year-old Venus, suffering from a virus and stomach complaint, was beaten in the singles, the top-seeded sisters slumped to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat against the experienced Czech pair.
"It was what it was. We have a chance to compete for our country and did the best that we can. We had a blast out there," said 34-year-old Serena.
<img title="Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova (right) and Barbora Strycova celebrate after defeating the Williams sisters Serena and Venus in the women's doubles event at Rio on Sunday. Pics/AFP" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/aug/9Lucie-Safarova-1.jpg" alt="Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova (right) and Barbora Strycova celebrate after defeating the Williams sisters Serena and Venus in the women's doubles event at Rio on Sunday. Pics/AFP" /> Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova (right) and Barbora Strycova celebrate after defeating the Williams sisters Serena and Venus in the women's doubles event at Rio on Sunday. Pics/AFP
"I wouldn&rsquo;t say it was devastating. It was a lot of fun and we will always remember these moments and these matches. At the end of the day, I think that&rsquo;s what matters most," she added.
Serena is the defending champion in singles while Venus was the title winner in Sydney 16 years ago. Serena is still in contention for back-to-back Olympic titles having defeated Australia's Daria Gavrilova in her singles opener earlier Sunday.

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Serena and Venus Williams were deposed as Olympic Games women&rsquo;s doubles champions on Sunday, their hopes of a fourth gold dashed by Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova in the first round

Rio 2016: Williams sisters shocked in women's doubles Round 1

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Rio 2016: Williams sisters shocked in women's doubles Round 1

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