WIMBLEDON, England – Twelve years after doing it the first time around, Serena Williams has made history again by winning four consecutive Grand Slam titles – better known as the “Serena Slam.”
It’s another mark in the history books for the player who many already consider the greatest woman to have ever played the game.
Williams, 33, overcame a staid opponent in Garbiñe Muguruza, a 21-year-old from Spain, Saturday in the Wimbledon women’s final, winning 6-4, 6-4.
It’s a remarkable feat for Williams, the world No. 1, marking her 21st Grand Slam title and sixth at Wimbledon. She sits just one major trophy behind Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22.
Williams, winner at the U.S. Open last year, now holds all four Grand Slam titles to her name, having emerged victorious at the Australian and French Opens to start 2015.
“The moment is still setting in a little bit,” Williams said. “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 U.S. Open I would win the Serena Slam at all.”
In September at the U.S. Open she’ll seek to become the first tennis player – male or female – to win all four majors in one year since Graf did so, back in 1988.
“The Serena Slam… stands out to me the most,” Williams said. “I mean, I’ve been trying to win four in a row for 12 years, and it hasn’t happened. You know, it’s been an up and down process. I honestly can’t say that last year or two years ago or even five years ago I would have thought that I would have won four in a row. So just starting this journey, having all four trophies at home, is incredible.”
Williams also becomes the oldest player to win a major at 33 years, 289 days. She breaks Martina Navratilova’s record of 33 years, 263 days, set at this very tournament in 1990.
Muguruza had beaten Williams before, at the French Open in 2014 in the second round, a match the Spaniard won 6-2, 6-2, the most lop-sided Grand Slam defeat of Serena’s career.
“I can’t talk,” an emotional Muguruza said on court after her loss Saturday. “I’m very proud the way that I was able to play in front of you. In Spain we don’t have that much grass, but I’m going to change things now. I love to play in big courts… a Grand Slam final for me is a dream come true. Serena is still showing us that she’s world No. 1.”
Later Muguruza, who will jump to world No. 7 in Monday’s rankings, added, “I don’t feel disappointment. But you never know how many chances you’re going to have to play a final in a Grand Slam. If you have to choose who to win or lose (against), I would choose Serena.”
It was not an easy ask for Williams on what was a bright blue day on Centre Court. Muguruza, who had won just one match at Wimbledon before this year, came out firing as Williams, in her 25th major final, served three double faults in the first game.
Muguruza matched Williams power-for-power and went up a surprising 3-1, Williams blasting a forehand long and looking at her strings with befuddlement.
But Williams would hold at 2-4 down, letting out a first big “Come on!” of the match and delivering a service winner. In the next game she drew even with Muguruza, who has just one WTA title to her name, the Spaniard missing a forehand over the baseline after a powerful exchange.
Courtesy of: USA Today