Agence France Presse
London, July 11: Serena Williams won a sixth Wimbledon title Saturday as the World No.1 became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam crown with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over against Garbine Muguruza in the final.
At 33 years and 289 days, Serena surpassed Martina Navratilova as the oldest player to win Wimbledon, and any of the other three Grand Slams, in the Open era.
Serena’s sixth Wimbledon crown brought with it a slew of other remarkable landmarks that underline her credentials as one of the greatest female athletes of all time.
The American’s 21st Grand Slam crown and 68th tour-level title earned her a cheque for £1.8 million (USD 2.7 million).But it is her legacy rather than her bank balance that concerns Serena these days and she now holds all four Grand Slam titles at the same time – the rare ‘Serena Slam’ she last achieved in
2002-03.
“I can’t believe I am standing here with another ‘Serena Slam’. It is so cool. It has been a pleasure and an honour to give so many years in this unbelievable place,” Serena said after the match.
Lifting the Rosewater Dish for the first time since 2012 also leaves Serena needing only to defend the US Open title to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to claim a calendar Grand Slam. She is the first player since Graf in 1988 to win Wimbledon and the Australian and French Opens in the same year.
Regardless of her defeat, Muguruza, 21, emerged as one of the brightest young stars on the women’s tour after a bravura display in her first Grand Slam final appearance that often left Serena rattled.
“I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t have words to say how I feel. I’m very proud and happy to be here,” said Muguruza. “A Grand Slam final for me is a dream come true and I also want to say congrats to Serena, showing that she’s the World No. 1.”
Serena’s thunderous serve was strangely out of sync in a nervous start to the first set and, after serving a double fault on the first point, she threw in two more to gift Muguruza a surprise break.
However, Serena recovered from 2-4 down in the first set. And with the pressure ratcheted up, the inevitable Serena break back arrived in the eighth game when Muguruza missed with a wild forehand.
Serena scented blood and Muguruza crumbled, a double fault on set point gift-wrapping the lead to Serena in a set that had been the underdog’s for the taking.