Muguruza Tops Venus Williams For First Wimbledon Title, Second Grand Slam

Garbine Muguruza captured her first Wimbledon title Saturday beating Venus Williams 7-5, 6-0 in a 77-minute ladies’ final.

Serving 4-5, 15-40 in the first set, the 23-year-old Muguruza saved those two set points then reeled off the last nine games over an error-strewn Williams to collect her second career Grand Slam and avenge a loss to the younger Williams in the 2015 final.

“I always come very motivated to the Grand Slams,” Muguruza said. “Since I lost the final here, I wanted to change that. I came thinking, ‘I’m prepared, I feel good.’ During the tournament and the matches, I was feeling better and better. Every match, I was increasing my level.

“I think today, I played well.”

Muguruza finished with 14 winners to 11 unforced errors. She never dropped serve in her last three matches. Venus hit 17 winners while tossing in 25 unforced. And she won just six points on serve in the second set.

But the key moment of the match were those missed set points in the first set.

“When I had those set points against me, I’m like, ‘Hey, it’s normal. I’m playing Venus here.'” Muguruza said. “So I just kept fighting, and I knew that if I was playing like I was playing during the two weeks, I was going to have eventually an opportunity.

“I was calm. Even If I lost the first set, I’d still have two more. Let’s not make a drama, you know.”

Muguruza, who was in her third Slam final (all facing Williams sisters), beat Serena to win the French Open last year and now denies Venus. In doing so, she becomes the first player to have wins over both Williams sisters in Grand Slam finals.

Muguruza’s title was just the fourth of her career, meaning half her wins are Slam! She’ll climb from No. 14 in the rankings back to the Top 5 at No. 5.

“I’m happy that once again I see myself winning a Grand Slam, something that is so hard to do,” Muguruza said. “It means a lot. It means a lot of confidence.”

Venus was bidding for her first Grand Slam title and first Wimbledon since winning on the grass in 2008. She suffers her first loss in the Wimbledon finals to someone other than Serena. Remarkably at the age of 37, Venus has more Grand Slam victories in 2017 than any other woman. She’ll have another chance of becoming the oldest women’s Grand Slam champion in the Open Era at the US Open.

“She played top tennis, so I have to give her credit for just playing a better match,” Venus said. “I’ve had a great two weeks. I’m looking forward to the rest of the summer.”

Yes!!!! pic.twitter.com/evqTlwOaRf

— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) July 15, 2017