Garbine Muguruza’s power tennis was too much for Serena Williams today as she is now the first Spanish woman to win the Roland Garros title since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. It was all about power and Muguruza was the one who dictated the action with her piercing baseline strikes and change of ball direction. Of course against a player of the caliber of Serena it was still a struggle every step of the way. Down a set 6-7 and 1-3 in the second Serena unleashed her beast mode primal screams but it was not enough to thwart Mighty Muguruza who despite blowing four match points at 5-3 was able to keep her cool and focus to finish the job at love in her final service game. Queen Garbine punctuated the incredible win with a lob winner that plopped on the baseline provoking even a happy smile from Serena who again showed supreme class and even delight for her conqueror. Once again Serena has fallen short in a major final – that’s third straight – but once again she has shown joy for her special rival who showed a level of tennis that can soon vault her to the WTA no. 1 ranking.
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Hartt · June 4, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Have been following Muguruza for a few years now, so was happy when she won RG. She is still young, so she has time to win more Slams during her career. I would love to see Serena win the USO in front of her home country fans, but have to think that Serena’s age is catching up with her.
Thomas Tung · June 4, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Serena (at least from the camera angle) looked like she could’ve run down that lob on match point, but was stunned that it landed right on the line. Well played from Garbine, whose style (and grunts/screams) seem like Sharapova 2.0.
Scoop Malinowski · June 4, 2016 at 1:55 pm
Hartt: Muguruza won us all over with the grace and class she showed in the past – it definitely was special to see her win today she deserved it – a part of Serena also enjoyed to see her win – Garbine is the kind of player and person everybody likes –
Scoop Malinowski · June 4, 2016 at 1:58 pm
TT: Serena’s softer than she used to be – she still shows flashes of her beast level but she also shows an easy grace and class after losing – I think it’s part that she’s getting older and her killer instinct is not what it once was –
Hartt · June 4, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Scoop, yes Garbine comes across as an appealing young woman. And I think it works in her favour that she is not a teenager winning her first Slam but someone who has been among the top players for a while now, with titles in both singles and doubles. There will be a lot of pressure on her now, having won a Slam, but I think she will be able to handle it – certainly hope so. I look forward to following her career in the coming years.
Dan Markowitz · June 4, 2016 at 6:20 pm
Will Murguruza go all Kerber on us now? I’ve never seen a slam winner turn around and play such bad tennis. Not even Cilic had such a downturn as Kerber.
Scoop Malinowski · June 4, 2016 at 7:38 pm
I think Garbine has the goods to be a dominant force in the WTA – but she also could be content with this one and could savor it for a few years by shifting to cruise control – one big title is like five in this day and age with Serena’s appetite for shiny hardware – it will be very interesting to see where this potential superstar goes now and if this win sparks a burning obsession to win more majors –
Andrew Miller · June 5, 2016 at 5:46 am
Agree with Dans question. Answer is yes, Mugu will go all Kerber on us.
CS3 · June 5, 2016 at 11:32 pm
Muguruza has all the tools to be the future #1 of the WTA Tour… Spain’s next Top Talent… She has the firepower to stand up to and get the better of pretty much any player from the baseline… She moves well & plays with poise well beyond her years; rising to the occasion on the big, match-deciding points… Credit where it’s due to Muguruza for denying Queen Serena her chance at history yesterday at Roland Garros… A well-earned French Open crown & I’d be surprised if Muguruza goes the Gabriela Sabatini route by becoming a 1-hit Grand Slam wonder… She just seems to have the “It” factor & the look of a long-reigning Top 2 player who wins multiple Majors! CS-3
Scoop Malinowski · June 6, 2016 at 8:34 am
Agree CS3 – Sabatini was an introvert and not really comfortable in the spotlight while muguruza enjoys all the attention and her English seems just as good as her spanish – I see muguruza being a flagship for the WTA –