PARIS, June 4, 2016
Garbine Muguruza captures her first Grand Slam title, winning Saturday’s final of the French Open 7-6, 6-4 over world number one Serena Williams.
The fourth seed from Spain broke in the 11th game to serve the set out in the following with a backhand winner after 56 minutes.
Williams opened the second set with a rough game, dumping a backhand into the net to give the Spaniard an early break. Muguruza, however, double faulted on break point in the following and the US-American leveled score at 1-1, but the third consecutive service loss followed. Muguruza defended the lead until the end, converting her fifth championship point after one hour and 43 minutes.
Game. Set. Match MUGURUZA! Say hello to our newest #RolandGarros champion. 👋 https://t.co/X8PfeZ7S8V
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) 4. Juni 2016
Muguruza is the first Spanish woman to triumph in Paris since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario beat Monica Seles in the final in 1998. A couple of her compatriots congratulated the Venezuela native on her triumph.
Congrats Garbiñe for your win at Roland Garros. Great news for Spanish tennis!
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) 4. Juni 2016
Booooom!!! Garbiñe Muguruza!!!
— David Ferrer (@DavidFerrer87) 4. Juni 2016
Orgullosa de la gran campeona de Roland Garros!! @GarbiMuguruza pic.twitter.com/SfUMZ0aLBR
— Conchita Martínez (@conchitamartinz) 4. Juni 2016
Williams remains stuck on 21 Grand Slam titles.
“I think she won the first set by one point. I mean, that just goes to show that you really have to play the big points well, and I think that is what she did,” Williams admitted her second loss in a Grand Slam final this year. She finished runner-up to Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open.
“I ran up against two players that, I think in Australia, Kerber made 16 errors in three sets, so what do you do in that situation? Today Garbiñe played unbelievable. The only thing I can do is just keep trying,” the 34-year-old said and added that Muguruza is having a bright future.
“She’s definitely hitting hard. I think she has a bright future, obviously. She knows how to play on the big stage and she knows how to win Grand Slams.”
Muguruza entered the press room for her post-match conference about two and half hours after her triumph.
“I’m pretty shocked still. Pretty excited about what just happened. I think I’ve got to take my time and enjoy, because with tennis players it goes so fast. You have to right away think about another tournament. I want to enjoy,” the Spaniard stated and couldn’t really realize that she has captured her first major trophy.
“I was like, Did I win Roland Garros? What happened? When he said, Game, set, and match, I was like, No way. I won. It was like amazing,” she told about her feelings after she had converted match point.
“I’d like to say thank you to the people who are close to me. It’s a small circle of people, a small group of people. I’d like to thank my family. They have made so many sacrifices for us. You know, for me, my parents have had to travel a lot. They had to make many sacrifices. My family was here with my brothers, and that’s a very important moment,” Muguruza said.
