Since that day, Williams has not lost a Grand Slam match, winning 27 in a row – on the hard courts of the U.S. Open and Australian Open, then the red clay of the French Open, and now the grass of Wimbledon – heading into Saturday’s final against 21-year-old Garbine Muguruza of Spain.
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Victories in the last week over Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska have strengthened Muguruza’s self-confidence, but it is the memory of her remarkable 6-2, 6-2 victory over Williams at last year’s French Open that gives the world No 20 her biggest reason for optimism.
If she beats Muguruza, Williams will have won her fourth consecutive Grand Slam title over two seasons, completing a self-styled Serena Slam, something she also did in 2002-03. Muguruza loves to attack serves where as Serena can get complacent at times.
In her run of 17 straight losses, Sharapova has only stretched her rival to three sets on three occasions.
Finally for the Spaniard, she edges Serena slightly once again on the return of serve.
This is Mirza’s maiden final here across all formats in seniors though she had won the girls’ doubles title at the All England Club 12 years ago with Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova.
“But I’m more confident after this”.
Coming from a player who yesterday said that during Wimbledon “I brush my teeth at the same time“. Getting to 18 majors was super stressful for me.
Now 21, she began playing tennis aged four, and it was just a few years after that beginning that she dreamed about the very occasion in which she is about to take part. “In the third, I could find a way, as in the first set, to play more aggressive, lose the fear to win the match”. If she beats world number one Williams, she will become the new world number six. A reporter kind of insinuated that there may be something more than just “a friend wants another friend to win the most prestigious tournament in tennis” going on.
Muguruza came through one of the more entertaining matches of the tournament, with the first set a particular highlight. If that means that I need to add a little muscle to my legs or my butt or whatever, then that’s what I’m going to do. So this time I have to just go in it, have fun and do the best that I can. “I’m really happy with my body type, and I’m really proud of it. Obviously it works out for me”.
That is an achievement to so far elude the younger of the two Williams sisters during her glittering career at the summit.
The 20-time Grand Slam champ admitted: “I don’t think she’s intimidated at all”. Claiming the Venus Rosewater Dish for the sixth time on the famous centre court would be her 21st major singles title and arguably make her the greatest female player of all time.
“You know, I’m at a position where I don’t need to win another Wimbledon“, the Champion told the Daily Mail.
Against Radwanska, Muguruza demonstrated power, vulnerability and vast reserves of character that should make her the people’s favourite against the all-conquering Williams.
“After that, I’ve just been really enjoying myself”.
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There is consensus among those who watch the game that Muguruza can win majors, but if she’s going to start now against Williams, here are three things she will have to do.
