Glory for Muguruza as she thrashes veteran Williams
GARBINE Muguruza won a battle of the generations by thrashing Venus Williams to secure her first Wimbledon title.
Williams, 37, was bidding to become the oldest female grand slam singles winner in the open era but Muguruza, 14 years her junior, delivered an emphatic 7-5 6-0 victory.
It is Muguruza’s second major title, adding to the French Open crown she won last year, and makes her the first Spanish woman to win the singles here since her coach Conchita Martinez in 1994.
When the 23-year-old’sold’s challenge revealed Williams’ lastst forehand to have landed long,ng, she crouched down in disbeliefsbelief with her face plantedd in her hands.
Muguruza earnss £2.2million for thiss win at the All England Club and also makes up for finishing run- ner-up to Venus’ sisterr Serena in the final of two years ago.
When Muguruza landanded her first major title itle at Roland Garros last year, she had been circled as the natural successor to Serena as the queen of women’s tennis.
Results, however, hadad largely failed to meet expectations until this year, when she has rediscoveredvered the sort of form to suggest this will not be her last grand slam success. ss.
Muguruza showed guts to sneak a nerve-shredding openingning set, saving two set points before hitting Williams decisively one game later.ater.
She then showed ruthlessness in the second as she blew w Williams away in six games that lasted ed just 26 minutes. “I had I think thee hardest match today against Venus,” Muguruza said.
“She is such an incredibleredible player, I grew up watching her play. It is incredible to play her in the final. She was definitely an inspiration and it’s incredible to play her here.”
On losing to one Williams and then beating another, Muguruza said: “Two years ago I lost in the final here to Serena. She said maybe one day I will win. So here I am.”
Muguruza had not yet turned four when Williams played her first match in the main draw at SW19 and the American may never have a better chance to win her eighth grand slam title.
“Congratulations Garbine, amazing,” Williams said. “I know how hard you work and I’m sure this means so much to you and your family. Well done today, beautiful.” Spitting rain meant the contest started with the roof closed and under it Virginia Wade, Martina Navratilova and the King of Spain no less, Juan Carlos de Borbon, were all watching on from the Royal Box. Williams started with an 109-mileper-hour ace and if anyone was nervous it was one of the line judges, who let go a serve which on review was shown to have been half a yard out. Muguruza, with her left thigh strapped, opened with a double fault, the first of five in the opening seven games alone as each invited early pressure onto their serve. Neither took advantage but Williams camecam again at 5-4, this time with two setse points when Muguruza missed a pairpa of routine forehands. A breath breathtaking 19-shot battle from the baselin baseline might have turned the match a diff different way but Williams hit the net bef before a booming Muguruza serve avertedaver danger. Now, at 5-5, it was Muguruza’s turn to crank up the pressure. She missed one break point bu but grabbed the second as W Williams finally caved with a flo floating forehand long. Th The crowd held its breath as Muguruza emerged to serv serve it out and then opened up two set points when a brillian liant backhand defence loop looped over Williams and onto the line. Williams slapped into the net again and Muguruza m moved one set to the good. Will Williams had come within a whisker of winning the opening frame butb you would not have known i it in the second as Muguruza sn snatched an early break and then twot more to lead 5-0. All the momentum and belief seemedseem to have vanished from Williams’Will game and the only disa disappointment for Muguruza was that her celebration had to wait for the result of her rev review. When it arrived she co could barely hold back the tear tears.