April 29, 2024
Garbiñe Muguruza crowned Wimbledon champion after beating Venus Williams
Garbiñe Muguruza celebrates winning the final against Venus Williams. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters
Garbiñe Muguruza has been crowned Wimbledon champion after beating the seven-time grand-slam winner Venus Williams 7-5, 6-0 on Centre Court.
The 23-year-old ran away with the second set to record her second grand-slam victory, adding to the French Open title she won at Roland Garros in 2016.
Muguruza was overpowered by Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final in 2015 but against Serena’s older sister, Venus, it was the Spaniard who brought the power game, increasing the tempo and ferocity of her groundstrokes at the end of a closely contested first set to take it 7-5 and stamp her authority on the match.
Venus Williams, 37, was aiming to become the oldest Wimbledon singles champion in the Open era, having already set a record by becoming the oldest Wimbledon finalist but she wilted dramatically in the second set, with her young rival taking six consecutive games.
Accepting the trophy, Muguruza unwittingly drew attention to the 14-year age gap between the two players. “I grew up watching her play so it was incredible to play the final with her,” said Muguruza, to laughter from the crowd under the Centre Court’s closed roof. “I had the hardest match against such an incredible player. I feel lucky to play her here. Of course I was nervous because I always dreamt to be here. The first set was very tough, we both had a lot of chances, so I was glad to make it.”
