Garbine Muguruza achieved the rare feat of overpowering Serena Williams to claim her maiden Grand Slam title with a 7-5 6-4 win over the world number one and defending champion in the French Open final on Saturday.
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Williams’ hopes of clinching her first Grand Slam title since last year’s Wimbledon were shattered, as she suffered a 5-7, 4-6 defeat against the fourth-seeded in the summit showdown at the Roland Garros.
“This win is like a new pulse given to women’s tennis”, added the Spaniard, who became the second player after Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber to beat Williams in a grand slam final this year.
“That’s for sure”, said Patrick Mouratoglou, Williams’ coach. She just needs to get more consistency the whole year and the maturity as well. She was going to take back the set point on her own terms and put her match back on track, and that’s what she did.
Muguruza, who’s as powerful as Williams, had only her previous best results at Roland Garros lying in the quarterfinals in 2014 and 2015.
He has won 11 grand slam titles to Murray’s two, is in his fourth French Open final compared to his opponent’s first and leads their head-to-head 23-10.
But then Muguruza would break again for 2-1 in the very next game and from there she would not be headed, though she would almost lose her lead by way of five double faults, following on from four in the opening set.
Serving for the set, Muguruza’s nerves made an unwelcome appearance but she eventually sealed the opener 7-5 with a ferocious backhand victor.
Williams, resilient as they come, staved off the full quartet, forcing Muguruza to try to serve for the victory.
Muguruza registered the key break of the second at 1-1 and held on to the advantage, despite Williams bravely saving four match points at 3-5.
Navratilova appears excited by the prospect of further battles between Muguruza and a player 12 years her senior.
Williams’ twilight is certainly now – she’s 34 – but twilight can be handsome and Williams seems likely to enjoy a bit more time in the sun. “And then today Garbine played unbelievable so the only thing I can do is keep trying”, Serena said. Serena, running for the ball, stopped because she thought it was out.
Garbine Muguruza of Spain poses with the trophy following her victory during the Ladies Singles final match against Serena Williams of the United States on day fourteen of the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros on June 4, 2016 in Paris, France.
“I think I played very well”. She did a similar thing in her semi-final against Sam Stosur, she had an incredible last game.
That was evident as soon as she had the chance to lay into her opponent on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The French Open remains the only major tournament Williams has not won at least four times. This time, with the experience behind her, she was able to stay strong.
“Just goes to show you, you really have to play the big points well”, Williams said, “and I think she played the big points really well”.
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. “Her footwork was not what it should be”, King said.
“Match point was really weird”, said Muguruza post-match.
The men’s doubles final was also deciced on Saturday.
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Reflecting on her last two losses in major finals this year, Serena dismissed any implication that she’s succumbed to the pressure of chasing No. 22.
