Tennis is a game where you can see the end coming from a long way off. Unlike most other major sports, you can’t turn defeat into victory on a single play. But tennis is a sport of momentum, where one point can kick loose an avalanche.Two years after losing in the final here to Serena Williams, Garbiñe Muguruza broke through for her first Wimbledon title with an ultimately commanding and one-sided win over her sister Venus. It was a strange contest – the first women’s final under the roof – which was rich with fight and vim in a long first set, although beset by a mixture of grinding rallies and elementary errors from both finalists, and virtual surrender in the second as the Spaniard drove on to win 7-5, 6-0 in an hour and 17 minutes.
If the 37-year-old Williams had been struck by the debilitating Sjogren’s syndrome that first hit her six years ago, she had every excuse, because she had put up stout resistance in the first frame. It has been a tough time for her, all round. Twelve days after she broke down in tears when confronted by questions about a fatal car accident that still hang over her, Williams could not find consolation in victory. Her collapse was dramatic, although she took defeat stoically, knowing she had been beaten out of sight by a young opponent who found all her weapons working perfectly at just the time when the energy vanished from the American’s tennis.
When the 23-year-old’s challenge revealed Williams’ last forehand to have landed long, she crouched down in disbelief with her face planted in her hands.
Muguruza earns £2.2million for this win at the All England Club and also makes up for finishing runner-up to Venus’ sister Serena in the final of two years ago.
When Muguruza landed her first major title at Roland Garros last year, she had been circled as the natural successor to Serena as the queen of women’s tennis.
Results, however, had largely failed to meet expectations until this year, when she has rediscovered the sort of form to suggest this will not be her last grand slam success.
It was Williams’s turn to suffer in the next game. She saved one break point for deuce but overcooked a cross‑court drive and Muguruza sensed an almost indiscernible weakening in the American as she stepped up to serve. There was just one point between them – and then a whole set.
Muguruza produced the shot of the match, a perfectly judged lob that outfoxed Williams and gave her two set points. Williams found the ad corner to save the first but the net with a backhand to lose the second.
If age had wearied her limbs it had not invaded her spirit and, knowing she would have to win two sets in a row to lift the title, she settled down to the chore, but the mistakes mounted, worryingly. When she double-faulted after a successful Spanish challenge of a called ace on a first effort, the break gave Muguruza a noticeable lift at the start of the second set.
Muguruza showed guts to sneak a nerve-shredding opening set, saving two set points before hitting Williams decisively one game later.
She then showed ruthlessness in the second as she blew Williams away in six games that lasted just 26 minutes.
“I had I think the hardest match today against Venus,” Muguruza said.“She is such an incredible 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 on Centre Court 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-mile-per-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 came again at 5-4, this time with two set points when Muguruza missed a pair of routine forehands.
A breathtaking 19-shot battle from the baseline might have turned the match a different way but Williams hit the net before a booming Muguruza serve averted danger.
Now, at 5-5, it was Muguruza’s turn to crank up the pressure. She missed one break point but grabbed the second as Williams finally caved with a floating forehand long.
The crowd held its breath as Muguruza emerged to serve it out and then opened up two set points when a brilliant backhand defence looped over Williams and onto the line.
Williams slapped into the net again and Muguruza moved one set to the good.
Williams had come within a whisker of winning the opening frame but you would not have known it in the second as Muguruza snatched an early break and then two more to lead 5-0.
All the momentum and belief seemed to have vanished from Williams’ game and the only disappointment for Muguruza was that her celebration had to wait for the result of her review. When it arrived she could barely hold back the tears.
- Spaniard wins 7-5, 6-0 to earn second grand slam title
- Venus Williams could not match 23-year-old’s high-energy performance
| Country (sports) | Spain |
|---|---|
| Residence | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Born | 8 October 1993 Caracas, Venezuela |
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Turned pro | 2011 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach(es) | Alejo Mancisidor (2010–2015) Sam Sumyk (since 2015) |
| Prize money | $11,128,219 |
Singles | |
| Career record | 293–149 (66.29%) |
| Career titles | 4 WTA, 7 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 2 (6 June 2016) |
| Current ranking | No. 15 (3 July 2017) |
Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2017) |
| French Open | W (2016) |
| Wimbledon | W (2017) |
| US Open | 2R (2015, 2016) |
Other tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | SF (2015) |
| Olympic Games | 3R (2016) |
Doubles | |
| Career record | 72–43 |
| Career titles | 5 WTA, 1 ITF |
| Highest ranking | No. 10 (23 February 2015) |
| Current ranking | No. 30 (6 June 2016) |
Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2014, 2015) |
| French Open | SF (2014) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2014) |
| US Open | 3R (2014) |
Other doubles tournaments | |
| Tour Finals | F (2015) |
| Olympic Games | QF (2016) |
Team competitions | |
| Fed Cup | 7–2 |
Looking down from the stands was her coach, Conchita Martínez, who took part in the last Spanish-American final, beating Martina Navratilova in 1994. History is never far from any racket in tennis. Just half an hour into the final, the match looked as if it would be one of the longer ones – which the game badly needs. There have been some terrific contests the past fortnight – Johanna Konta’s matches against Donna Vekic and Simona Halep and Muguruza’s three-setter against Angelique Kerber in the fourth round.
She had lost her serve only four times to get here. But, even though the rallies remained long, the bruises mounted quickly. If she was going to stay in the fight, she needed a quick hurtful counter to stop her lively opponent’s momentum.
Muguruza still had to play flat out to hold for two-love but the power suddenly drained from the Williams serve, down to 80 miles an hour, allowing the Spaniard to dictate the points. There were no cheap points on offer and even when the ball did sit up for her, Williams could not put it away, butchering a forehand volley at the net that handed Muguruza another break. The first set had lasted 41 minutes; a quarter of an hour into the second, the contest was dissolving with bewildering speed.
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