Serena, Muguruza meet anew in final
PARIS – Two years ago at the French Open, Serena Williams was stunned in the second round by a 20-year-old opponent participating in only her 13th match at a major tournament. That 6-2, 6-2 loss to Garbine Muguruza was, and remains to this day, the most lopsided defeat of Williams’ 338-match Grand Slam career. So guess who the No. 1-ranked Williams will face in the final at Roland Garros on Saturday as she attempts to earn her 22nd major championship and equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record? Muguruza, of course. “I learned so much from that match. I hate to lose, but when I do, I hope it was worth it,” Williams said. “That match was definitely one of those that was kind of needed and worth it.” Since that setback, Williams has won 47 of 50 matches at majors, collecting four trophies along the way to boost her total to 21. Only Graf and Margaret Court, with 24, own more. Williams moved one victory from Slam title No. 22 – including her second in a row at the French Open – by getting past a poor start and beating Kiki Bertens 7-6 (7), 6-4 in the semifinals Friday. The No. 4-seeded Muguruza advanced by eliminating 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur 6-2, 6-4.
“She and I are players who like dictating the game,” Muguruza said about herself and Williams. “There will be moments when she’ll be dominating, and maybe at times, I will be dominating. I think I can be a tough opponent, too.”
It’s also a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon final, which Williams won in straight sets.
On Friday, the women’s semifinals were played simultaneously in front of similarly empty stadiums, Williams vs Bertens at Court Philippe Chatrier, Muguruza vs Stosur at Court Suzanne Lenglen, where tickets were available for 20 euros ($22). Afterward, the men’s semifinals took place, with No. 1 Novak Djokovic nearing his fourth straight Grand Slam title – and first at the French Open – by topping No. 13 Dominic Thiem 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, and Andy Murray facing defending champion Stan Wawrinka.
Because repeated rain sabotaged the schedule and eliminated the usual rest time at a major, Saturday will be Williams’ fourth consecutive day on court, and Muguruza’s third.