WIMBLEDON, ENDLAND - Three down, just one to go.
In her long and ever more remarkable career, Serena Williams has won all the major tournaments at least three times. She has won Olympic gold in singles and doubles. She has won WTA Tour events large and small.
But what she has not yet managed is a Grand Slam: winning the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon Open and the United States Open in the same calendar year.
Williams's 6-4, 6-4 victory over Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain in the final here on Saturday gave Williams her sixth Wimbledon singles title and her fourth straight major singles title - the so-called #SerenaSlam. But it also gave her the first three legs of the Grand Slam, the true Slam, which could make this year's United States Open quite an occasion.
Despite the straightforward score line, the opportunity did not come easily. Muguruza, playing in her first Grand Slam final at age 21, displayed few signs of nerves and plenty of purpose in the opening phase of the match and took a 4-2 lead before Williams turned the momentum in her favor. Williams double faulted three times in the opening game and lost her rhythm again while serving for the title at 5-1 in the second set.
With the Centre Court crowd giving Muguruza plenty of positive reinforcement, she surprisingly broke Williams's serve twice in a row, saving a match point and getting back on serve to 5-4.
But the rally (and the rallies) would end there as Muguruza lost her serve at love, missing a forehand wide on Williams's second match point.
It was unclear initially whether Muguruza would challenge the call, but the ball was clearly out. No challenge came, and the chair umpire Alison Hughes haltingly pronounced the words: "Game, set and match, Miss Williams."
Williams, delayed reaction or not, was soon leaping on the grass and celebrating. Muguruza was in tears sitting on her chair.
"Don't be sad," Williams told her at the trophy ceremony. "You'll be holding this trophy very, very soon. Believe me."
Only three women have completed the Grand Slam: Maureen Connolly in 1953, Margaret Court in 1970 and Steffi Graf in 1988.
"It's probably the only thing she hasn't done yet," said Patrick Mouratoglou, Williams's coach.
In truth, there is also plenty of other history to chase, even as Williams's contemporaries continue to work (and play) in her shadow.
This latest triumph broke the family tie with her older sister Venus, who has won five times at the All England Club and watched from the players box on Saturday.
This was also Serena's 21st Grand Slam singles title, putting her just one behind Graf, whose 22 are the best of the Open era, and just three behind Court, an attacking Australian who won 24.
Serena won her first in 1999 at the United States Open, fighting her way through a draw of her elders to create quite a surprise.
But she has endured as few athletes in any sport have, and at age 33 she is in the midst of the most extended stretch of excellence of her career.
Saturday's victory against a talented and big-hitting opponent from the next generation made Williams the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam singles title in the Open era, less than a month older than Martina Navratilova was when she won Wimbledon in 1990.
Navratilova was watching from the Royal Box on Saturday, as were former players who once competed with Williams, including Marion Bartoli, the surprise 2013 champion.
Williams has won eight of the last 13 major singles titles and two Olympic gold medals since hiring Mouratoglou before Wimbledon in 2012.
Continue reading on New York Times.
Have you got a news tip, article or press release for us? E-mail: TNN.ng1@gmail.com
=============================================================
PLACE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS HERE =============================================================
DUBAI VISAS IN 7-DAYS
Do you need Single-Entry or Multiple-Entry Visas to the UAE (Dubai Visas) for 14-Days (Single-Entry Only), 30-Days or 90-Days? Processing within 7-working days! We guarantee you affordable prices. Contact Rukky Travels and Tours at rukkytravels@gmail.com
*********************************************************************
Do you need Single-Entry or Multiple-Entry Visas to the UAE (Dubai Visas) for 14-Days (Single-Entry Only), 30-Days or 90-Days? Processing within 7-working days! We guarantee you affordable prices. Contact Rukky Travels and Tours at rukkytravels@gmail.com
*********************************************************************
YOU TOO CAN HAVE YOUR TEXT ADVERTS PLACED HERE. CONTACT US AT tnn.ng1@gmail.com FOR AD PLACEMENT DETAILS
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus