BEIJING — Matteo Tagliariol of Italy won the gold medal in men's epee Sunday, beating Fabrice Jeannet of France 15-9.

Jeannet won the silver, and Jose Luis Abajo of Spain took the bronze.

The final pitted representatives from two of the world's top fencing nations. Tagliariol took control with an early six-point run to lead 8-3, and never looked back.

Tagliariol won Italy's first gold medal of the Beijing Olympics — and gave Italian fencing fans something to cheer about. Andrea Baldini, Italy's men's foil star, lost his spot on the Olympic team because of a positive test for a banned substance.

Italy has a chance to add another gold in fencing Monday in the women's individual foil. The top three seeds in that event are all Italian.