RIO DE JANEIRO — The whipping gusts that disrupted athletes and spectators alike were just a prelude to the winds of change that roared through Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night: Serena and Venus Williams lost an Olympic doubles match for the first time.

Day 2 of the Rio Games proved quite the breeze for some athletes and much too windy for others. The gusts ripped apart a large decorative panel on the swimming venue and even shut down shopping at the megastore – essentially an enormous tent – inside the Olympic Park.

The Olympics ended early for Venus Williams, who followed her loss in the singles competition Saturday with a another defeat Sunday in doubles, along with her sister, Serena. The Williams sisters were seeking a fourth gold.

Michal Smolen of the United States steers through a gate during the kayak K1 men's heats. Smolen posted the 10th-best score and advanced to Wednesday's semifinals.

Alexander Massialas of the U.S. celebrates after beating Italy's Giorgio Avola in a foil fencing quarterfinal. Massialas later lost in the gold-medal match.

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Then, the tempest: the Williams sisters were stunned in the opening round by the Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova, 6-3, 6-4, after entering Sunday’s match with a 15-0 mark in the Olympics.

They had won the gold medal in women’s doubles every time they entered the event: in 2000, 2008 and 2012. The American duo was seeded No. 1 and coming off a 14th Grand Slam championship together at Wimbledon a month ago.

That wasn’t the only tennis upset.

Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked player, was swept out of the men’s singles tournament by 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), in a result that left both players sobbing.

After three left wrist surgeries that had him contemplating retirement, del Potro is ranked just 145th in the world. But when the big Argentine is healthy and smacking his signature forehand around the court, he’s a dangerous opponent.

Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal won their matches, as did Serena Williams in the women’s singles draw.

CYCLING: Anna van der Breggen made it back-to-back golds for the Netherlands in the women’s road race.

Van der Breggen joined Sweden’s Emma Johansson and Elisa Longo Borghini in a frantic race to catch American rival Mara Abbott, sweeping her up within sight of the finish line, then had just enough kick to win the sprint along Copacabana Beach.

Abbott coasted across in fourth in another shattering disappointment for the United States, which entered the race as arguably the strongest team.

Van der Breggen’s teammate, Annemiek van Vleuten, crashed while leading the race on the same final decent where Vincenzo Nibali and Sergio Henao tumbled while leading the men’s race Saturday. Van Vleuten sustained three small fractures in her spine and was hospitalized in intensive care.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Diana Taurasi and the U.S. team opened their Olympics with a record rout, smashing Senegal 121-56 while setting marks for most points in a game, margin of victory and assists (36).

The Americans, also featuring first-time Olympians Brittney Griner, Ella Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart, have won 42 consecutive Olympic games.

DIVING: Wu Minxia ended her record-setting Olympic career the way it began: with a gold medal.

Shi Tingmao and Wu totaled 345.60 points to win the women’s 3-meter synchronized title. They led throughout the five-round competition and won by a whopping 31.77 points.

Wu claimed her fourth consecutive gold in 3-meter synchro, becoming the first woman to win four golds in the same event at the Olympics. She also won in 2004, 2008 and 2012, and has had three different partners.

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