Garbine Muguruza Upsets Serena Williams to win the French Open
In a repeat of the final of Wimbledon 2015, Spanish sensation Garbine Muguruza turned the tables by upsetting Serena Williams 7-5 6-4 to win the French Open Saturday.
It’s a second consecutive Grand Slam final defeat for Williams, who failed yet again to tie Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 major wins.
In keeping with the traditions of Spanish players on claycourt, Muguruza traded powerful groundstrokes with Williams en route clinching a second victory over the great American at Roland Garros, after her second round blitz in 2014.
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Williams shows good sportsmanship once again. Image: Guardian
After a nervy penultimate game saw her blow four match points, the 22-year-old Spaniard served out the match at love, finishing with a baseline winning shot that drew a smile from Williams’ face as she then applauded the new champion on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Victory makes Muguruza the first Spanish woman to win a Grand Slam title since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1998.
“I can’t explain with words how this day means to me,” Muguruza said postmatch.
“You work all your life to get here.”
She becomes the fifth player to defeat Williams in a Grand Slam final, joining Angelique Kerber, Samantha Stosur, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams, who twice achieved the feat.