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Even though Williams will be the considerable favorite, don’t forget that the hard-hitting Muguruza beat her at the French Open last year and claimed a set off the world No. 1 at this year’s Australian Open.
Inspired by watching Serena Williams winning her first Wimbledon title on television in her new home in Barcelona, where she lived with her parents since moving from her native Venezuela as a young girl, Mugurza dreamed it was she who was playing Williams in the final at SW19.
Garbine Muguruza easily won the first set in her Wimbledon semifinal match against Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-2. – She told BBC Sports. “I was so desperate to do it. After that, I’m just enjoying myself”.
Another topic five-time Wimbledon champion Williams has been reluctant to discuss is all that is at stake for her at the conclusion of this fortnight. “I don’t want to change anything, but I’m not superstitious,” Muguruza said.
Williams has claimed the Wimbledon title on five previous occasions, including three of the last six years, but is taking a relaxed approach to her latest Centre Court decider.
Asked about her displays against Watson and Azarenka, she said: “I think sometimes you definitely need them [matches like that] or you’re not feeling your game, or you feel like you’re not necessarily playing your best tennis. Obviously when she’s ahead, it makes it a lot easier for her”. Sure, I won’t be happy.
She and Hingis will meet the Russian pair of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in women’s doubles title clash.
With Muguruza doing the majority of the dictating, the contest was always on her racket.
Garbine Muguruza is the only thing standing in the way of a Serena Slam.
Williams has refused to talk about her pursuit of a fourth straight Grand Slam tournament victory – which would be her second “Serena Slam” – and a Grand Slam in the same calendar year to match Steffi’s Graf’s modern era feat in 1988. The world No. 1 Williams, having beaten Sharapova 16 straight times, is favored to join Muguruza on Center Court on Saturday.
In referring to Forbes’ annual highest-paid athlete list, a Think Progress report points out the fact that Sharapova earned $24.4 million, almost $2.5 million more than Williams’s $22 million in 2014. “I’d be on the front page of the paper, I know that”.
“As far as drastically, I’m not going to come out and become a serve-and-volleyer or a chip-and-charge type of player“.
Sharapova made things tighter in the second set but double-faulted again on break point to give Williams a 3-2 lead.
Oh, and let’s not forget a victory would leave her just the US Open to win for the illustrious Calendar Slam. Getting to 18 majors was super stressful for me.
“It’s just been going better for me”.
While coy about her achievements, she admitted her success is fuelled by a fiercely competitive streak that refuses to dim even at an age when many of her ex- rivals have long since retired.
Yes, she has a chance, but not a good one. She broke Radwanska’s serve on a point that featured a brilliant lob and a backhand victor.
As ever, there is only one player who can stop her – and her name is not Muguruza.
The little-known Muguruza easily won the first set in just eight games, exerting her power on the current world number 13 Radwanska.
Muguruza said on Friday that that this going to be the best tennis day of her life. “I was nervous in second set. I was not able to do that in today’s match”. “It was 50/50 call”. And I think Radwanska was waiting for this moment.
“Wasn’t really a good decision”, Radwanska acknowledged.
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“I think for many others, maybe if I was British, a semi-final would be incredible, I’d be on the front page of the paper, I know that”. “Nobody can do that for me”.
