“It’s a matter of time”.
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“I think she has a bright future, obviously”, Williams said. I’m not one to ever make excuses and say, like, Oh, my adductor was hurting or whatever.
“I did definitely try out there today, but did I play better than the other matches?”
Williams had struggled for rhythm in her quarter-final and, after again battling to overcoming Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands to make the final, the 34-year-old had reluctantly admitted to reports that she had been carry an injury, reportedly to an adductor.
Williams was then asked about what made the difference in the match.
Williams, as is her way, opened with a statement service game, four big deliveries, a love hold.
“It shows how hard it is to win a grand slam, to equal records”.
Garbine Muguruza said that fixing her mindset and getting rid of all the unnecessary emotions were key to her winning her first Grand Slam title at the French Open on Saturday. “She fits the role on and off the court”.
Maybe stunned by that shot, maybe stunned that she was now a Grand Slam champion, Muguruza turned toward her coach and other supporters in the stands with a blank expression.
“I have been saying during the whole week (my objective was) to be less emotional, to believe more that I’m here because I deserve my place here”, said Muguruza, who announced her talent by handing Williams her heaviest slam loss here two years ago.
Billie Jean King is presenting the trophies.
Throughout the afternoon, Muguruza put on a flawless exhibition of retaining that belief.
As she had at Wimbledon, Muguruza moved into a 4-2 lead in the opening set only for Williams to fight back. “Her name isn’t going to be a ‘potential Grand Slam winner” anymore.
Williams was again just a match from Steffi Graf’s 22-major title Open era record, having lost in the Australian Open final to Kerber in three sets. She was the defending champion in Paris.
The 22-year-old becomes the first Spanish victor at Roland Garros since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who was watching from the President’s Box, won the third of her titles in 1998.
Williams got back to 4-4 and Muguruza held firm serving at 4-5.
“I’m so excited. To play a final of a grand slam against one of the best players, I’m so happy”. But the top-ranked American is still in danger.
“She won the first set by one point”.
Muguruza had numerous chances to close out the set but Williams was resilient as they went back and forth to deny Muguruza an easy first set win. On the fourth championship point, Muguruza tried to tee off on a second serve, but her backhand missed the mark. Her nerves let her down but her game did not.
Scot Gordon Reid lost 7-6, 6-1 to Argentine Gustavo Fernandez in the men’s wheelchair final but consoled himself by partnering Shingo Kunieda to beat Michael Jeremiasz and Stefan Olsson 6-3, 6-2 to retain their doubles title. Muguruza saved it with a flurry of forehands then carved an ace down the T to erase a second break point.
Garbine Muguruza celebrates her victory in the French open final. “Serena is a very powerful player and I had to be ready for every point”.
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That game may even have been the turning point as a Williams double-fault handed Muguruza the break in the very next game.
