The Sunday Guardian

Garbine wins Wimbledon

Spaniard Garbine played the match of her life to outplay Venus Williams in straight sets to win in London on Saturday.

- Garbine Muguruza exults after defeating Venus Williams in London on Saturday.

play her here. Of course I’m nervous because I always dreamed about winning it, but I was composed.”

Having lost to Serena Williams in the 2015 final, Muguruza becomes the second Spanish woman to win the Wimbledon singles title after her coach, Conchita Martinez.

Garbine Muguruza has now won major titles at the French Open and Wimbledon

A close contest was forecast, and for 40 minutes it proved impossible to separate the two finalists as their impressive serves dominated.

Williams had her chance to take control but failed to convert two set points at 5-4, and her challenge faded dramatical­ly as the last nine games went to Muguruza.

“I miss Serena,” Williams said afterwards, with her sister back in the United States awaiting the birth of her first child.

“I tried my best to do the things you do - but I think there will be other opportunit­ies.”

Williams had opened the match with an ace, and Muguruza with a double fault, and it was the American who held a narrow edge as the first set unfolded.

A first break point disappeare­d into the net at 3-2 before Muguruza missed her chance with a wayward forehand return in the following game.

When the Spaniard’s first serve momentaril­y let her down it presented Williams with two set points, but she succumbed in a gripping 20-stroke rally, and then sent a return long.

The American’s forehand then completely deserted her, four er- rors in a row helping Muguruza to finally clinch the first break at 6-5, and a brilliant backhand lob helped the Spaniard secure the set.

It felt like the first blow in a lengthy encounter, but instead the final was over just 25 minutes later.

Williams double faulted to drop serve at the start of the second set and, now moving sluggishly, steered a volley into the tramlines to fall 3-0 down. While the former champion faded, Muguruza accelerate­d towards the finish line, breaking for a fourth time in succession and powering to three match points on serve.

The first two slipped by but not the third, which required the confirmati­on of Hawkeye before Muguruza was able to drop to the turf in celebratio­n. AGENCIES

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