7-5, 6-4 is the final score as Muguruza, who beat Williams in the second round here in 2014, does it again to claim her first grand slam title.
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While the result is a surprising one on paper, Muguruza, who had lost to Williams in the Wimbledon final a year ago, had been in sizzling form in the leadup to the final, dropping only the first set she played and winning 12 consecutive sets thereafter. “I think at the end of the day I didn’t play the game I needed to play to win and she did”, Williams said. “I grew up on clay so for Spain and for me this is just incredible”.
Garbine Muguruza has served out the first set in her French Open final against Serena Williams.
Rafael Nadal may have pulled out but the Spanish flag still flew over Roland Garros on Saturday as Garbine Muguruza – the most convincing young pretender in the women’s game – delivered a thunderous display of ball-striking that Nadal himself would have been proud of.
Her shirt, arms, white sweatbands, cheeks and hair were all caked in red dirt but Muguruza did not care a jot as she became the first Spanish woman to hoist the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1998.
After an exchange of breaks to start the second, Muguruza now leads 3-1.
There was never likely to be a repeat of that, with Muguruza arguably a slight favourite going into the final.
“After having match points and Serena coming back to 4-5, I expected more tension but she didn’t do it”. Backed into a defensive corner, she lifted a gentle, arching topspin lob that curled into the sky and fell back to the red clay inside the baseline for match point. As a curiosity, that particular Wimbledon final represents the last Grand Slam won by Williams.
“I really like that they were very ambitious, ” Muguruza said.
Williams saved four match points in the next game to stay alive, but Muguruza stayed calm to serve out for the biggest win of her fledgling career. “She is a fantastic player, and we need her”. Serving for the set, she showed early nerves in the 12th game before converting her third opportunity with a sizzling backhand victor. King said. “Playing the Wimbledon final past year helped her win here”. “To play a final of a Grand Slam against one of the best players, I’m so happy”.
Williams eventually took the first set 7-6 on a tiebreak that she edged 9-7, settling into a more comfortable rhythm in the second set, which she won 6-4. I looked at the chair umpire and the chair umpire doesn’t want to say anything.
Yes, she has won only one of those four finals and lost three. “Players are developing the belief to beat the world number one, but a semi-final and two finals from the last three Grand Slams show Williams is far from done yet”.
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Garbine Muguruza got the first break of serve in her French Open final against Serena Williams. To play a final of a grand slam against one of the best players, it’s the ideal final so I’m so happy.
