Venus adds a new trick to her trade
GARBINE Muguruza describes the feeling of winning as “magic” and will have to conjure up quite a trick to deal with the latest weapon in Venus Williams’ armoury.
Williams has a serve that has been clocked at 118mph at these championships and brought her 28 aces.
That is second only to Jo Konta, her semi-final victim.
But it is not just about speed, says legend Chris Evert.
“She’s perfecting the body serve – hitting the ball often at over 100mph on her second serve straight at her opponent,” said Evert.
“In my day, the balls were softer so it wasn’t something that was done. But they’re doing it more.
“Venus hit one second serve at 106mph at Johanna, who had to twist out of the way.”
Williams, who has suffered from an auto-immune disease in recent years, last reached the final in 2009, when she lost to her sister Serena.
Her younger sibling is pregnant and absent, giving Venus a chance to win her sixth singles title at SW19.
“Venus may be 37 but she’s playing better than she ever has and is loving the pressure. She sees this final as a way of stepping out of Serena’s shadow,” said Evert, who is working at Wimbledon for ESPN and the BBC.
“I never thought I’d see her play so well at this stage of her career. She’s making far fewer mistakes.
“To be honest, three or four years ago I thought she’d had it, what with her health problems. But the thing to remember is she loves these championships. And she has learned to deal with anything.”
Muguruza, below, was ruthless in her semi-final win over Magdalena Rybarikova, who won just two games, but Williams has no special plans for the Spaniard.
“I just try to produce whatever I need at the time,” said Williams. “It’s just about betting on myself every time.
“When I look across the net I don’t think it’s the right mentality to believe in the other person more than me. I just try to give myself the best chance.” It was Boris Becker who inspired her to hit big and now her serve on grass is the most potent in the women’s game. “I used to love watching Boris hit the ball, how he liked to play aggressively,” said Williams. “As for 106mph second serves, I just tell myself to hold serve.”
Her only concession to the woman she faces today will be to have a chat with Serena, who beat Muguruza in the final here two years ago.
Muguruza won the French Open title in 2016 and said this week it was her time to win Wimbledon. “The magic of winning doesn’t happen without hard work,” she said.
“I’ve done that, and I’ve also experienced winning and losing a Grand Slam. I’m in a good place. I’ve learned to play on grass. Venus is impressive and of course has a very big serve.”