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Muguruza beats Venus Williams to Wimbledon title

By Jacob Akindele
16 July 2017   |   4:21 am
Garbine Muguruza of Spain, yesterday, defeated Venus Williams, 7/5; 6/0 to win her second Grand Slam title. The match was a double family affair for the champion, who lost in the 2016 final to Venus’ younger sister, Serena.

Garbine Muguruza of Spain, yesterday, defeated Venus Williams, 7/5; 6/0 to win her second Grand Slam title. The match was a double family affair for the champion, who lost in the 2016 final to Venus’ younger sister, Serena.

At the outset, Venus opened with an ace in the first game. She was leveled on point twice by two forehand errors, but a service winner got her on the scoreboard. Muguruza hit a double fault to open the second game, but twice aggressive shots elicited balls from Venus. A backhand volley winner took her to game point and she leveled.

The game progressed with serves until the seventh when the Spaniard faced a break point. However, the American missed a forehand for deuce and her opponent won the game with an ace.

The disappointment affected Venus in the ninth game as she made her second double fault. She delivered a service winner to reach the first advantage, but was denied game by a challenged call. She needed two more opportunities before scaling through for a 4-3 lead. Muguruza held her serve to level four games apiece. Venus was ruthless in taking the ninth game at love.

The 10th game was the determinant of the match. A Venus backhand winner gave her the opening point leading to 15-40 for two set points. The two players hung in for the longest of the contest ending with a netted forehand by Venus. Relieved, Muguruza hit a service winner for deuce, followed by an ace for the advantage and game to level five games apiece.

Venus opened the 11th game with a service winner, but hit a double fault after a successful challenge of an out call by Muguruza. Her rhythm was affected as she faced a break point at 30-40. She forced a deuce, but lost the game on the first advantage for Muguruza. Serving for the set, Muguruza lost only the first point before reaching 40-15 set point. A backhand passing shot from Venus hit the tape and back on her side for game and set.

There was not much to the second set. Venus dropped her serve in the first game and Muguruza held after a close score following a forehand error by her opponent. It was a harbinger of what followed. Game after game, Venus’s shots went wide or deep past the baseline. When Muguruza hit a passing shot to win for a 4-0 lead, the end was obvious. Venus lost four straight points on her serve to have Muguruza take a 5-0 lead.

The lady from Spain stepped on the line to serve for the match. A backhand from Venus sailed wide. An offensive shot from Garbine brought a forehand error. In a jiffy, Muguruza had three match points, after an over-ruled call was replayed. She lost two points. Then at 40-30, a call was challenged by Muguruza and the Hawk-eye displayed in her favour. She defeated Venus Williams for the title by the scores of 7/5; 6-0.

When the two ladies entered the Centre Court, having their racket bags carried for them and stopping to pay courtesy to the Royal Box bouquet in hand, it was Venus who did it with familiarity. At the end, the Venus Rosewater Bowl was handed to her opponent, Garbine Muguruza.

Venus has played in 10 Wimbledon finals winning five and losing four to her sister. She was gracious in defeat, as she congratulated Muguruza and spoke of her sister thus: “Serena I miss you. I tried to do the same things as well as you do. But there will be other opportunities.”

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