Muguruza beats Serena, wins French Open [Update]

Garbiñe Muguruza has defeated America’s World No.1 Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4 to win the Rolland Garros French Open women’s title. 

With today’s win, Muguruza moves up to No.2 in the rankings.

Muguruza wins French Open

She’s the first Spaniard to be ranked at No.2 since Sanchez-Vicario in 1996.

AS IT HAPPENED: ROLAND GARROS FINAL

16:38 Serena speaks to the press

A few comments from Serena after the match: 

Q. What did you think was the difference in the match? It was really decided by just a few points, it seemed, from our point.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I guess. I haven’t really had a lot of time to think about the difference. 

She won the first set by one point. I mean, that just goes to show you really have to play the big points well, and I think she played the big points really well.

Q. Well, big disappointment, but do you think you played well? I think you played today better than the past days. I don’t know if it’s your feeling or not. I understand when you lose it’s difficult to appreciate.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Thank you. I don’t know. I think — I don’t know. It was just so many holes. 

“Like I could have served better. I mean, I made a lot of errors on my return. 

“You know, I did definitely try out there today, but did I play better than the other matches? It’s a totally different game.

“Like my other matches have been different types of players, you know, more or less. You know, totally different style. 

“I think today was just, you know, another new style. I don’t know if it was better or what. It’s going in the right direction, I think.”

Q. Garbiñe is a person who hits a lot of aggressive balls. Just in comparison to other players on tour, do you feel she’s one of the players that’s hitting one of the hardest balls? Is that something that no one else is really doing against you on a consistent basis?

SERENA WILLIAMS: “She’s definitely hitting hard. It just depends on who I play. 

“She just goes for broke on every shot and it works for her.”

Q. Are you the type of person who can kind of let this match go quickly, or will you beat yourself up about it for a few days?

SERENA WILLIAMS: “I don’t really know right now. I’m just — obviously it’s not something I’m like, Oh, it’s over with. 

“It’s definitely something I want to dissect and see what I can learn from that and what can I do to get better from it. 

“That’s the only way to keep improving.”

16:35  PHOTO: The 2016 Roland Garros Champion

16:33  Serena into press immediately.

Serena Williams’ quest to catch Stefanie Graf’s Open Era record of 22 majors will move to Wimbledon in three weeks, where she will be the heavy favorite if she’s fit and healthy. She’s a six-time champion at the All England Club, and it’s where she won her last major, beating Muguruza in the final last year. 

16:14  STAT: Muguruza is the 9th 1st-timer in the last 24 Slams.

Muguruza is the 9th different first-time Grand Slam title winner in the last 24 Slams: 

– Schiavone (2010 Roland Garros)

– Li (2011 Roland Garros)

– Kvitova (2011 Wimbledon)

– Stosur (2011 US Open) 

– Azarenka (2012 Australian Open)

– Bartoli (2013 Wimbledon)

– Pennetta (2015 US Open)

– Kerber (2016 Australian Open)

At 22 years, 7 months, Muguruza is the youngest first-time Slam champion since Victoria Azarenka won 2012 Australian Open aged 22 years, 6 months.

Muguruza is the second player born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam title, joining two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.

16:06 Welcome to No.2, Garbiñe Muguruza.

With today’s win, Garbiñe Muguruza moves up to No.2 in the rankings. She’s the first Spaniard to be ranked at No.2 since Sanchez-Vicario in 1996.

The 22-year-old Spaniard, playing in her second major final, becomes the third consecutive first-time Slam winner. She’s the first Spaniard to win a major title since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1998.

And she does it with an INCREDIBLE LOB that Serena can only watch land on the baseline. What a match. 

What a game from Serena Williams. She saves FOUR Championship Points to hold after an epic game. Could that be the momentum shift?

Muguruza will serve for the title after the changeover. 

15:57  Serena saves FOUR Championship Points…so far.

Serena falls behind 15-40 on her serve, giving Muguruza two Championship Points. She snuffs the first two and saves a third with a perfectly placed cross-court forehand winner, her 22nd winner of the match. 

But that ill-fated drop shot attempt lands in the net and it’s Championship Point No.4 for the Spaniard. She goes for glory on a second serve return that lands wide. 

Still at deuce in a looooong service game. 

Another clean hold for Muguruza, who has yet to blink all tournament. She’s a game away.

Serena Williams is serving to keep her title hopes alive. 

Not all points are equal. Some points are bigger than others. Garbiñe Muguruza has been winning those.

Serena on break points: 2 for 8.

Garbiñe on break points: 4 for 6.

15:45  Serena holds, trails 3-4*.

A clean and fast hold at 15 to keep the scoreboard pressure on Muguruza. 

Muguruza defeated Serena in 2014 in the second round at the French Open. 

Only four players have defeated Serena at a Grand Slam more than once: Venus Williams (5-9 vs Serena at Slams), Justine Henin (4-3), Jennifer Capriati (4-3) and Samantha Stosur (2-1).

15:43  Muguruza holds, leads 4-2*.

Clutch hold from Muguruza at 15. Snuffs out a momentum shift. For now. 

15:40  PHOTO: Muguruza three games away.

15:38  Serena holds, trails 3-2*.

Serena is turning up the volume. Not a bad move at all. Not only does it fire her up but it serves as a constant reminder to Muguruza just exactly who she’s playing and what she’s trying to do here. 

Muguruza maybe winning the physical game right now, but can she win the mental game? She’s three holds away from her first Slam title. 

15:35  STAT: Second Serve Woes

Serena Williams is serving at 52%, winning 70% of her first serve points. On second serve? Just 38%. 

15:34  Muguruza holds, leads 3-1*.

The frustrating thing for Serena: If she was playing this well against anyone else today, the match might already be over. That’s how good and resilient Muguruza has been. 

The Spaniard holds at 30 with a perfect forehand winner, her 13th winner of the match, and she consolidates the break. 

Muguruza is bidding to become the seventh player to defeat the World No.1 in the Roland Garros final.

15:29  Muguruza BREAKS back, leads *2-1.

How about that composure from the 22-year-old? Follows up that spotty service game with a break at 15. Big hitting off the round there and she just bullys Serena around the court with her power game. 

15:27  Muguruza double-faults, Serena BREAKS back, tied 1-1*.

Muguruza’s serve got her out of some sticky spots in that game, but it finally failed her. After saving two break points, she double-faults on back-to-back points to hand the break back to Serena. 

That could prove costly. Serena started this set very flat and gifted the early break to the Spaniard. Getting the break back could wake her up. 

Serena Williams has lost at Roland Garros to nine different players, including Muguruza (2014, R64).

But only Jennifer Capriati (2001, QF; 2004, QF)) and Justine Henin (2003, SF; 2007, QF) have defeated Serena more than once at Roland Garros.

Serena Williams has rallied to win a GS match after losing the 1st set 36 times, the most in the Open Era, including 10 times at Roland Garros.

While trying to process that incredibly tight, incredibly good first set, Muguruza breaks Serena at 15 to start the second.

On Set Point No.2, Serena goes heavy to the Muguruza forehand and the Spaniard shanks it wide. 

But Muguruza gets Set Point No.3 and this time she takes matters into her own hands. She fires a big backhand down the line to seal the set. 

Muguruza serves her way out of trouble to get to deuce, then hangs in on defense before Serena goes for too much, fires a forehand into the net. 

Serena saves Set Point No.1 with a good second serve return that puts Muguruza on the defensive and Serena cleans it up with a forehand winner down the line. 

Nervous game here from Muguruza. Double-fault and made a mess of a mid-court ball to start the game.  

Another 30-all game that really saw a missed opportunity from Muguruza, who yanks a mid-court backhand wildly wide at 15-30. She could have had 15-40. 

But she rebounds, hanging in a backhand to backhand rally that has Serena stretching well wide.

But Serena finally leaves one on the shorter side and Muguruza sees her opening. 

She steps in quickly and fires a backhand down the line winner to earn break point. 

She breaks with a big forehand cross court that Serena can barely get her racquet on. 

Just when you think the momentum has shifted by just a hair…it doesn’t. 

Muguruza shows no signs of nerves, holds at 15. 

It’s been a game of tiny margins between two big hitting players. 

Once again, the game goes to 30-all, and for the second straight game Serena wins the swing point with a great forehand winner that has Muguruza sliding into the tramlines. 

Serena breaks one point later and now it’s Muguruza who will seve to stay in the set. 

Serena gets the break back at 30-40, set up by a big return right at Muguruza’s feet to earn her third break point of the set. 

She converts as she gets Muguruza on the run and the Spaniard fires the ball just long. 

How good is this match? Very good. The quality has been top-notch from both women. 

In the Open Era, there have been 44 different players to win a Grand Slam singles title. 

Roland Garros has produced the most first-time winners (15), followed by Australian Open (11), Wimbledon (9) and US Open (9).

Serena has hit 5 unforced errors so far and 4 of them have come off the backhand wing. 

Muguruza holds from 0-30 with a beautiful forehand down the line winner. She’s opening the court well by taking it hard to Serena’s forehand. 

14:46 Crowd getting loud for Muguruza. The French love themselves an underdog. 

Muguruza climbs it back to 40-30 with a Serena backhand long. That wing is breaking down. 

At 14:45  Muguruza hit back-to-back double-faults to fall behind 0-30. It’s not a break unless you hold…

Serena is able serve her way out of two break points with an ace and a HUGE second serve into the body that skids off the line. 

But at 30-40 she hits her first double-fault of the day and the break goes to Muguruza.

How many times have we seen that in tennis. Fend of break points, earn break points immediately. Serena down 0-40. 

The Spaniard gets out of 10-minute service game with a hold, saving two break points. That has to be a confidence booster. Serena has come out with a flying start and Muguruza is hanging in. 

Serena gets her first break point chance at 30-40 with a MASSIVE inside-out forehand winner. 

But Muguruza responds, out-rallying Serena from the baseline and flipping the rally once the ball got on her forehand. 

She pummels the ball wider and wider to Serena’s forehand side until the American can’t get it back.

Muguruza isn’t out of the woods yet. Serena earns Break Point No.2 with some quick hands at the net, but the Spaniard snuffs it out with her first ace of the match.

Only one woman has ever defeated Serena Williams in a clay-court final: Justine Henin. 

The 2016 Roland Garros final is Serena Williams’ 16th career clay-court final. 

She owns a 13-2 record in clay-court finals, with both losses coming against Henin (2002 Berlin and 2003 Charleston).

Good hold from Muguruza at 30. But some very positive signs early from Serena, who rifuled a backhand down the line winner on a return. 

Pure power. Haven’t seen that as much the last couple of days. 

Love hold to start the match for Serena. Four first serves, with an ace mixed in there, definitely help the cause. 

Garbiñe Muguruza is looking to add her name to Spain’s storied history here at Roland Garros. 

She is the first Spanish woman to reach the Roland Garros final since 2000 when Conchita Martinez was runner-up (lost to Mary Pierce in final). 

Muguruza is bidding to become the first Spanish woman to win Roland Garros since 1998, when Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario defeated Monica Seles in three sets.

In the Open Era, Serena Williams owns the second best Grand Slam final match win percentage (21-5, .808). 

Only Margaret Court (11-1, .917) owns a better record in the Open Era, however Court’s all-time Grand Slam finals record is 24-5 (.828). 

14:15 How They Got Here: One set dropped by each woman.

14:13  One Year On: The Rise of Muguruza.

In many ways, Muguruza came through the draw under the radar. The draw was kind to her and much like Serena she has not faced a Top 10 player until today. 

That she’s come through quietly, without too much attention, is a surprise. 

She’s now made the final of two of the last four Slams, while also making the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Singapore last fall. 

Serena leads the H2H 3-1.

All four matches have taken place at the Slams, with Garbiñe scoring that big win two years ago here in Paris, rolling past Serena in just over an hour.

It was a stunning victory for the young Spaniard and really launched her career as an elite player to be feared in the draws. 

 

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