Spain’s Garbine Muguruza receives the trophy after winning the final of the French Open against Serena Williams in two sets 7-5, 6-4, at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Saturday.
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It was for the first time that Williams, who was attempting to win her fourth French Open title, lost two successive Grand Slam finals in her career, Sport24 reported.
“I grew up on clay so for Spain and me this is just wonderful”.
The victory completed a fine day for Spanish tennis as it came on the Philippe Chatrier centre court in the aftermath of Garbine Muguruza’s maiden Grand Slam title win over Serena Williams.
For King, it was not merely a compelling tennis match between elite athletes, it was the first glimpse of a new era.
French Open champion Garbine Muguruza jumped two spots to a career-high No. 2 in the WTA rankings on Monday, while runner-up Serena Williams remained at No. 1, where she’s been for more than three years. Muguruza netted a backhand on the first and a Williams ace saved the second.
She remains the clear world No 1 and will certainly be the favourite to retain her Wimbledon title but overtaking Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 slam crowns no longer seems the inevitability it did 12 months ago.
The 22-year-old had to battle hard to level at 2-2, saving two break points along the way, but she then grabbed the first break of the final thanks to a loose game from the American culminating in a double fault. “I’ve got to take my time and enjoy, because with tennis players it goes so fast”. I don’t know her that well any more but she didn’t look happy.
The 22-year-old won a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon final, but this year turned the tables on the American with her precise power game on the red dirt. When you’re a kid and you practice on clay you’re always: “‘Oh, I wish I could win Roland Garros.’ Today is a great day”.
It took a moment for Muguruza to realize she had actually won.
The Spaniard would then consolidate for 4-2 before losing three straight games to fall to 5-4, before breaking again en route to taking the opening set 7-5, requiring four set points and overcoming four double faults in the set to do so.
But her loss to Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals in NY, her loss to Angelique Kerber in the final in Melbourne and now the loss to Muguruza in Paris means she will have to wait until Wimbledon, at least, for the next opportunity. She noted that in Australia, Angelique Kerber played a flawless final, and that Muguruza was simply too good for her on Saturday.
Serena has let out her first big “Come On” after landing a powerful backhand pass down the line.
“I’m not one to ever make excuses and say, like, “Oh, my abductor was hurting” or whatever”, Williams said. There is nothing Williams can do about the fifth, which Muguruza converts with a lob that lands right on the baseline as she beats Serena.
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“I don’t think it’s the 22, I just think she needs to get in a different place”. Like I could have served better. “There’s only one more step to be number one and I’m sure she’s going to win more grand slams”.
