Review: Chilean alchemists turn dreams to gold

ATHENS, Aug 23 (Reuters) -- In a feat that would have made ancient alchemists green with envy, Chile's Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu turned sweat, tears and raw desire into solid gold at the Olympic Games.

The small South American nation had waited more than 80 years for a gold medal at an Olympics and in an Athenian amphitheatre they won two in less than 24 hours.

Gonzalez and Massu bagged the nation's first in a memorable marathon that started on Saturday and ended at 2:37 am (2337 GMT) on Sunday. They beat Germany's Nicolas Kiefer and Rainer Schuettler 6-2 4-6 3-6 7-6 6-4.

"It's a wonderful thing for Chile," Gonzalez said, and the Chilean people responded, partying long into the night in Santiago.

Massu, without a single victory on a hard court all year heading into the Olympics, defied conventional wisdom and the form book less than 24 hours later by beating American Mardy Fish for the men's singles gold medal in another five set tussle 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4.

The rest, as they say, was hysteria, as the stadium erupted in a din of Chilean roars and tears and Massu took to the medal podium with Gonzalez -- winner of the singles bronze medal -- at his side.

"I can't believe it ... these have been the best two days of my life," an emotional Massu said.

"It is just incredible for Chile. We are a small country and this is amazing. All my life I looked up to the Olympics. To be here is enough but to win gold... to win two golds, well..."

Women's world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne had just as much to smile about as she confounded the pundits to win gold in her first tournament after three months away from the sport.

The Belgian had struggled since mid-April with a mystery viral illness which left her weak and fearful for her career and had not played since surrendering her French Open crown in May.

But in a clash of the world's top two players she beat France's Amelie Mauresmo 6-3 6-3 in the gold medal match to inherit Venus Williams's title.

"Still, a month ago, I didn't know if I was going to be able to come here," she smiled. "And now I won the gold medal.

"This is a great moment in my career ... it's amazing -- I am very proud."

FIRST GOLD

China picked up its first Olympic tennis gold when Li Ting and Sun Tian Tian rolled over Spain's Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-3 6-3.

The Chinese pair were ecstatic, taking off on a run round the arena with tears in their eyes and a Chinese flag draped round their shoulders.

While the Chinese embarked on unfettered celebration, former Wimbledon champion Martinez was left hankering for gold. The 32-year-old has a doubles silver medal from Barcelona in 1992 and a bronze from Atlanta in 1996 -- both won with Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

"Gold is fantastic, but silver is not so bad," she smiled sadly.

Losing men's doubles finalist Nicolas Kiefer found it impossible to find Martinez's stoicism.

"I could have had a gold medal to give my children but I failed," the tearful German said as he left the stadium.

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