Serena Williams now just one short of Steffi Graf's record after sealing sixth Wimbledon title over Garbine Muguruza

  • Top seed Serena Williams won her sixth Wimbledon singles title after defeating Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 
  • World No 1 was broken in the opening game before reeling off four consecutive games to win the first set
  • The Spanish No 20 seed produced a late fightback in the second set but could not stave off defeat
  • The American currently holds all four major tournaments and remains on course for calendar Grand Slam

By Nick Harris for the Daily Mail

Published: 09:35 EST, 11 July 2015 | Updated: 04:15 EST, 13 July 2015

Serena Williams completed the second ‘Serena Slam’ of her extraordinary career and then set her sights on completing a calendar year Slam of the major singles titles.

The American, 33, beat Garbine Muguruza, the No20 seed from Spain, in a match more thrilling than the 6-4, 6-4 score suggests, to win her 21st Grand Slam singles title.

She also became the oldest female Slam winner in the Open era and holds the US Open, Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon singles titles simultaneously, as she last did in 2003.

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Serena Williams clutches the famous Venus Rosewater Dish after winning a sixth ladies singles title at Wimbledon

Williams became the oldest ladies grans slam winner in the Open era
The American beat Martine Navratilova's record

Williams, at 33 and 288 days, beat Martina Navratilova's record to become the oldest women to win grand slam in the Open era

Williams poses with popular losing finalist Garbine Muguruza - who surprised herself by reaching the final on grass

Williams poses with popular losing finalist Garbine Muguruza - who surprised herself by reaching the final on grass

And by defending the US Open next month she can become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all four Slams in the same year. Victory at Flushing Meadows would also take Williams level with Graf’s career total of 22 Slam wins.

‘Man, it is really a great feeling,’ said Williams of this latest victory, her sixth Wimbledon title to add to six Australian Opens, six US Opens and three French Opens. ‘I’m just really excited about it because I didn’t want to talk about the Serena Slam. I honestly wouldn’t have thought last year after winning the US Open I would win the Serena Slam at all.

‘It’s super exciting. I just knew I wanted to win Wimbledon this year. Of all the Grand Slams, it was the one I hadn’t won in a while. It happened. Just amazing. It feels really, really good.’

The jaw-dropping statistics of Williams’ career continue to pile up. She has been in 25 Slam singles finals now and won 21. Looking as dominant and motivated as at any time, there appears no reason why she cannot stay at the top of the game for some time, in every sense.

Williams strikes a prayer pose after winning the title
The top seed points to the skies as she walks to the net

The American adopts a prayer position after winning the final point and raises her arm skywards as she makes her way to the net

Williams raises both arms in the air after winning Wimbledon to claim a fourth consecutive grand slam

Williams raises both arms in the air after winning Wimbledon to claim a fourth consecutive grand slam

Williams takes a loving look at the Venus Rosebowl trophy following the presentation ceremony after the game

Williams takes a loving look at the Venus Rosebowl trophy following the presentation ceremony after the game

The US phenomenon shares a cheeky smile as she walks past ball boys and girls to show the trophy to crowds outside

The US phenomenon shares a cheeky smile as she walks past ball boys and girls to show the trophy to crowds outside

What made this final compelling is that Muguruza — who has been the breakthrough star of the past fortnight without a doubt — pushed Williams. The 21-year-old was born in Caracas, Venezuela and is now resident in Barcelona and was the first Spanish woman in a Wimbledon singles final since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1996.

The world No20 will climb to No9 in the rankings and was hoping to become Spain’s first winner here since Conchita Martinez in 1994.

Although she was eventually outmuscled and outplayed, she recovered from 5-1 down in the second set to give Williams a scare. And though there were tears aplenty when she lost the good fight, Muguruza said that they were as much through the grandness of the occasion and the crowd’s appreciation than of sorrow. ‘I couldn’t stop crying,’ she said. ‘So many people were clapping. I make all these people feel this [positivity], in a tennis court? I felt special.’

Muguruza was in tears during her acceptance speech but got a rapturous applause from her newfound fans

Muguruza was in tears during her acceptance speech but got a rapturous applause from her newfound fans

The World No 1 pumps her fist on her way to a another victory in the ladies final at the All England Club

The World No 1 pumps her fist on her way to a another victory in the ladies final at the All England Club

Williams remains on course for a grand Slam
The American only needs victory at the US Open

Williams dream of a calendar Grand Slam remains alive after collecting the first three major tournaments of the year

Muguruza has brought a smile and a thrilling sense of adventure to the All England Club. But Williams brought her A-game to London and, when in full force, there is not much that anyone else can do to stop her. She has won 28 Slam singles matches on the bounce now, beating a string of Slam winners and former world No1s along the way.

Williams’ power game is underpinned by her ferocious serve but it faltered at the start of the match as she double faulted on the opening point. Two more double faults in that game were a sign of a few nerves from the world No1 and, soon after, Muguruza exploited the early weakness, converting the fourth break point with booming groundstrokes that forced Williams long.

‘I learned that all people are nervous — even Serena — in a final, because I saw it,’ said Muguruza. ‘And I learned that I have a good level. I have to believe that I can be there. I’m going to leave here being really motivated. I think I’m the most motivated person right now. This gives me a lot of power to keep practicing and improving, to see what else I can do in my next tournaments.’

The ladies top seed defeated Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court on Saturday

The ladies top seed defeated Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court on Saturday

The Spanish No 20 seed fought bravely but had no answer to the American's relentless onslaught

The Spanish No 20 seed fought bravely but had no answer to the American's relentless onslaught

The outsider held her own first service game comfortably and Williams put her first game on the board after going 0-30 down in her second service game.

Muguruza showed great character to save two break points in her second service game but, when she offered up two more at 4-3 ahead, Williams punished her.

The world No1 was getting into her groove and, while her serving was still not as fluent as it should have been, her sheer power was starting to match and beat Muguruza and she went ahead with a hold.

Williams now holds all four grand slam titles at the same time, in what has been coined the 'Serena Slam'

Williams now holds all four grand slam titles at the same time, in what has been coined the 'Serena Slam'

Williams questions a bounce after losing the opening game on her serve in the first set

Williams questions a bounce after losing the opening game on her serve in the first set

Muguruza was now hitting long two often and, when she double-faulted to hand Williams a break point, the American seized on it and took the first set.

Williams raced into a 5-1 lead in the second and then, against all the odds, Muguruza kept herself in contention with a break of her own for 5-2, a hold for 5-3 and another break back for 5-4, playing with such confident shot-making and force that even Williams was applauding at one stage. And Williams also knew Muguruza could beat her. She did just that at the French Open last year.

Muguruza chases a ball but saw the saw the match escape her after leading 4-2 in the first set

Muguruza chases a ball but saw the saw the match escape her after leading 4-2 in the first set

Williams expresses her frustration after missing a rare shot
The American appears fired up after winning the first set

Williams displayed emotions of anguish and emotion as she battled to her first Wimbledon title since 2012

‘Oh, my gosh. I think she’s such a great player,’ said Williams last night. ‘I think she really stepped up to the plate today. She was determined to do well and to win. She came out there to win. She wasn’t out there just to play a final. I think that says a lot about her and her future.’

As to Williams’ future, New York beckons and more history-making perhaps. ‘I feel like I’ll be OK,’ she said, which was an understatement if ever there was one.

Hollywood actress Rosamund Pike was one of several famous faces watching the action on Centre Court

Hollywood actress Rosamund Pike was one of several famous faces watching the action on Centre Court

Canadian rapper Drake (right) was in the stands to cheer on his friend Williams

Canadian rapper Drake (right) was in the stands to cheer on his friend Williams

Former US Open champion and teen prodigy Tracey Austin watches her compatriot race to victory

Former US Open champion and teen prodigy Tracey Austin watches her compatriot race to victory

The 21-year-old produced a late rally in the second set, winning three games in a row, but could not stave off defeat

The 21-year-old produced a late rally in the second set, winning three games in a row, but could not stave off defeat

The youngest Williams sibling has brought her tally of Grand Slam singles titles to 21 with victory at SW19

The youngest Williams sibling has brought her tally of Grand Slam singles titles to 21 with victory at SW19

Williams looks despondent after losing her opening service game but reeled off four games in a row to win the first set

Williams looks despondent after losing her opening service game but reeled off four games in a row to win the first set

Although Muguruza lost the match, she won plenty of new fans during her gutsy run to the final

Although Muguruza lost the match, she won plenty of new fans during her gutsy run to the final

The pair pose together by the net before the start of the match before Williams ran out the winner

The pair pose together by the net before the start of the match before Williams ran out the winner

 

  

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