Rio Olympics 2016: Day 2 round-up

Kosovo win first ever gold

Majlinda Kelmendi won gold in the women's 52kg judo division on Sunday and as a result won a first ever Olympic medal for the nation of Kosovo in the process.

Kelmendi had previously represented Albania at the 2012 London Games as Kosovo only received recognition from the International Olympics Committee in 2014.

"I'm so happy," said an emotional Kelmendi. "To be honest, I came here for the gold medal, but it's crazy. I'm so happy for me, for my coach, for all of my country.

"People, especially kids, in Kosovo look to me as a hero. I just proved to them that even after the war, even after we survived a war, if they want something they can have it. If they want to be Olympic champions, they can be. Even if we come from a small, poor country."

Williams sisters slump to shock defeat

The Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova may have offered the biggest upset of the Olympics so far when they knocked out Venus and Serena Williams in the first round of the women's Olympic doubles 6-3, 6-4.

The American sisters had previously won the event three times – 2000, 2008 and 2012 – and had never lost a doubles match over the course of a run of 15 Olympic games, yet fell out of this year's competition at the very first hurdle.

"We played terrible, and it showed in the results," admitted Serena after the match. "I wasn't playing the way I need to play, I wasn't crossing the way I need to cross."

Masterful Del Potro sinks Djokovic

On a night of shocks in the tennis, world number one Novak Djokovic was dumped out of the Rio Games in the first round on Sunday by Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, who also defeated him in the bronze medal match at the London Olympics.

Del Potro, former U.S Open champion ranked 145 in the world after an injury-hit few years, stunned the Serb with a powerful display to win 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2) in the biggest upset in the tennis tournament.

Van Vleuten 'conscious and talking' after horrific crash

Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten was taken to intensive care after suffering three small fractures in her vertebrae and a severe concussion after a serious crash in Sunday's Olympic women's road race.

While leading the race with around 15km to go, Van Vleuten lost control at the bottom of a steep descent and crashed head-first in to a raised, stone kerb. Coverage of the event showed the cyclist still and unresponsive as help arrived on the course.

The Dutch Cycling Federation (KNWU) later assured fans that she was stable and conscious, before releasing a statement regarding the athletes condition.

"Annemiek has severe concussion and three small fracture particles in her lumbar spine," the statement said. "She will remain in hospital for 24 hours at intensive care. She is conscious and talking.”

Late Gnabry strike salvages draw for Germany

Two goals from Serge Gnabry and a delightful finish from David Selke earned a point for Germany's footballers in an absorbing 3-3 draw against South Korea.

The draw means that Horst Hrubesch's side, who currently sit third in Group C of the tournament, will have to win their remaining game against Fiji on Wednesday and hope that Mexico beat South Korea.

Croatia earn surprise basketball win over Spain

Dario Saric blocked Pau Gasol's game-tying inside shot attempt at the final buzzer to secure Croatia's 72-70 upset of Spain in a men's basketball preliminary round game.

Spain were favorites to take the silver medal behind the USA and should still progress, but this is a setback in their challenge.

Spain had a commanding lead at halftime but Croatia roared back in a thrilling finale to lead by four points with 16 seconds to play. A three-pointer took Spain to within one but a free throw for the Croats extended their lead to two, and they held on for a win.

Long smashes weightlifting world record

Chinese weightlifter Long Qingquan broke a 16-year-old world record and North Korean Om Yun-Chol's heart on Sunday, taking a second career Olympic gold in the men's 56kg category in Rio.

Long lifted a combined total of 307 kg to break a record dating back to the 2000 Sydney Games and end Om's four-year dominance of the men's lightest weight category.

"It's been my dream to break this record since 2008. It's really hard, all the days and years I've spent thinking about it but I've done it and I'm so happy," said Long.

World records fall in the pool

In another night in the pool, Adam Peaty won Britain's first medal of these games, roaring to victory in the men's 100m breaststroke final. In doing so, Peaty also set a new world record, beating his own record set just a day earlier.

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom won gold and set a new world record in the 100m butterfly, destroying the field with a powerful performance.

Katie Ledecky of the USA was also celebrating gold and a new world record with a wonderful performance in the 400m freestyle.

Elsewhere, Michael Phelps won his 19th Olympic gold medal when the United States claimed first place in the 4x100m freestyle relay final.

Kerber survives scare

Second seed Angelique Kerber got off to a strong start in windy conditions in Rio, taking a competitive first set 6-3 before forcing an early break in the second to go up 2-0.

But Duque-Marino, ranked 82 in the world, roared back to win five of the next six games and take a 5-3 lead, giving her a set point in game 10. But Kerber survived and turned the tables once again, showing class and determination to level the scores before claiming the match.

Kerber is to play Eugenie Bouchard in the second round on Monday, after the Canadian overcame American Sloane Stephens in her first-round match.

Injury forces Brown out

Kerber’s joy was in sharp contrast to her compatriot Dustin Brown earlier in the day. The entertaining world number 86, who knocked Rafael Nadal out of Wimbledon in 2015, was forced to retire injured in the second set of his clash with Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci after appearing to twist his ankle.

Brown had won the first set of the centre court clash 6-4 but was down 4-5 in the second when he called it quits. The 31-year-old immediately headed for a scan at a nearby hospital.

Brazilian number one Bellucci is a friend of the German player and criticized the Games’ organizers for allowing the match to go ahead in the high winds that forced the cancellation of the rowing earlier in the day.

Play on the outside courts was delayed by 90 minutes as high winds blew down umbrellas and tore up hoardings.

"It was almost impossible. I don't know how they allowed us to play like this. I have never played in these conditions," the 28-year-old Bellucci said. "The wind was so fast and the match became ugly. You just couldn't take any risks."

Murray eases through

Defending gold medalist Andy Murray moved into the second round with a routine victory over Serbia's Viktor Troicki.

The Briton, coming off is his second Wimbledon title last month, eased to a 6-3, 6-2 win in less than 90 minutes under heavy clouds. Murray dealt well with the high winds, limiting himself to 21 unforced errors, compared with Troicki's 40.

mds/mp/pfd (AP, AFP)