AP, London :
Garbine Muguruza wasn’t going to be derailed by a Williams sister in a Wimbledon final. Not this time.
The Spaniard overcame two set points by Venus Williams to rally and win the first set en route to a 7-5, 6-0 victory over the 37-year-old American, who was bidding to become the oldest women in the Open era to win a Grand Slam title.
Muguruza, who lost to Serena Williams in the 2015 Wimbledon final, rode that momentum all the way to the championship without losing another game, breaking Venus’ serve three times in the second set as part of a nine-game run.
“When I was a little girl, I was watching these finals,” said the 23-year-old Muguruza. “I was watching Venus — I know it sounds incredible. To be able to play against her and now hold the big trophy, it means a lot.”
It was the first time Venus, playing in a 20th Wimbledon, had ever lost a set 6-0 at the All England Club. The 10-seeded Williams committed 25 unforced errors and hit just 17 winners in the match. She also was 0-3 on break point opportunities.
Muguruza, meanwhile, converted on four service breaks against Venus, who entered the final having won 12 consecutive service games.
The match was played under a closed roof on Centre Court, the first time a women’s final had been played indoors.
The 14th-seeded Muguruza, who beat Serena to win the 2016 French Open, is now the first player to beat both Williams sisters in a Grand Slam final.
“I only play against the Williams sisters. It’s incredible,” Muguruza said after the match. “I like it. It’s the best final you can get — Serena or Venus. And to play [Venus] here … she has won five times, she’s an expert.
“I don’t know. Finally a Spanish girl can play on grass.”
Muguruza, playing at Wimbledon for a fifth time, dropped the least number of games at this year’s tournament, losing only 44 during the fortnight.
She is the second Spanish woman to win Wimbledon, joining her coach, Conchita Martinez, who beat a 37-year-old Martina Navratilova in 1994
Venus was playing in her ninth Wimbledon singles final, having won five — in 2000, ’01, ’05, ’07 and ’08. She has an overall singles record of 87-15 at Wimbledon.
