Serena wins Wimbledon to cement her tennis legacy
“I CAN’T believe I’m standing here with another ‘Serena slam’ . . . I heard the ‘I love yous’, I love you more.” And with that, Serena Williams acknowledged her sixth Wimbledon victory.
At 33 years and 289 days, she yesterday surpassed Martina Navratilova to become the oldest player to win Wimbledon, and any of the other three grand slams, in the Open era.
Her 6-4 6-4 victory over Garbiñe Muguruza brought with it a slew of other remarkable landmarks that underline her credentials as one of the greatest female athletes of all time.
Her 21st grand slam crown and 68th tour-level title earned her £1.8-million (about R34.8-million). But it is her legacy rather than her bank balance that concerns Williams these days and she now holds all four grand slams at the same time — the rare “Serena slam” she last achieved in 2002-03. She is the first woman to land the French Open and Wimbledon back-toback since she last won that difficult double in 2002.
Lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish for the first time since 2012 also leaves her needing only to defend the US Open to become the first woman, since Steffi Graf in 1988, to claim a calendar grand slam.
She is just one major title behind Graf on the Open era leaderboard and within three of Margaret Court’s tally of 24.
She is the first player since Graf in 1988 to win Wimbledon and the Australian and French opens in the same year.
“It feels so good. Garbiñe played so well,” Williams said.
Regardless of her defeat, Muguruza, 21, has emerged as one of the brightest young stars on the women’s tour after a bravura display in her first grand slam final appearance that often left Williams rattled.
However, Williams had recovered from worse predicaments earlier on.
And with the pressure ratcheted up, the inevitable Williams break back arrived in the eighth game when Muguruza missed with a wild forehand.
Williams scented blood and Muguruza crumbled, a double-fault on set point gift-wrapping the lead to Williams in a set that had been the underdog’s for the taking.
Williams also revealed her lucky charm for the tournament — a dress she had packed to wear at the annual champions’ ball in case she ended up with the trophy.
“I always bring a dress just in case. I found out the better the dresses I bring, I usually win. I brought a really nice one this time,” she said.
Williams had won 28 of her last 30 tour-level finals, including her last nine at the majors, and, in her eighth Wimbledon final yesterday, she was finally back in the groove. —