Garbine Muguruza wins women’s final.
LONDON — Undoubtedly, Garbine Muguruza was mostly in the market for her own slice of tennis history in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.
But when the 23-yearold Spaniard picked up her second career Grand Slam title, courtesy of a scorching 7-5, 6-0 defeat of Venus Williams, she actually altered the Williams sisters’ historical perspective as well.
The 14th-seeded Muguruza, as it turns out, is the only player to earn a Grand Slam title at the expense of both siblings. She won her first major at the 2016 French Open, upending defending champion Serena 7-5, 6-4 for the title. And now she has scored the Wimbledon trophy over Venus, winning the final nine games of the 77minute match.
“When I knew I was playing Venus in the final, I was actually looking forward for it,” Muguruza said. “People were surprised when I said [at] the French Open, that I had Serena in the final.
“It’s great to go out there and play somebody that you admire.”
What made this victory special for Muguruza is it dims the memory of her first trip to a Grand Slam final here at Wimbledon two years ago. That time around she was on the losing end of the decision to Serena Williams, in straight sets.
Since that match, every time she’s gone by the honor board that lists all the Wimbledon champions in the Members Area of the All England Club lobby, she’s felt a pang of regret.
As soon as she came off the court a Wimbledon champion on Saturday, the All England Club chairman Philip Brook guided her over to that very wall where her name had already been permanently added to the roster.
Seeing herself among the illustrious former Wimbledon champions was clearly overwhelming. “It was amazing,” she said. “I always look at the wall and see, you know, all the names and all the history. I lost that final. I was close. I didn’t want to lose this time because I know the difference. I really know the difference of making a final, which is incredible, but … so happy that it’s there now.”
Muguruza, who has yet to win multiple titles in a year, won her lone trophy of 2016 at the French Open. The Wimbledon crown is the Spaniard’s first trophy this season, and only her fourth career title dating back to 2014.
Playing under the watchful eye of Juan Carlos, Spain's former monarch, sitting in the Royal Box, Muguruza took the 10th-seeded Williams’ game apart piece by piece.
While Muguruza took advantage of four of seven break points, Williams failed to execute on all three break point opportunities presented.
Williams held two set points on Muguruza’s serve in the 10th game of the first set, but couldn’t finish it off. In particular, Williams had the momentum in a long rally on that first set point, but lost it with a netted forehand.
Muguruza broke serve on a second break point in the 11th game of the first set when Williams sailed a forehand long, and from that point on she was in complete charge of the match. A deflated Williams showed little energy in the second set, and clearly couldn’t handle Muguruza expertly moving her around the court.
Williams was looking for her 6th Wimbledon title — and eighth Grand Slam trophy — in the final. Despite the loss, Williams was all smiles during the award presentation. It was jokingly suggested to the new champion her victory ruined the feel good story of a 37-year-old player, competing in her 20th Wimbledon, winning her first Grand Slam trophy since taking the 2008 Wimbledon title.