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Second Serena Slam, 21st Grand Slam for Serena

World number one consolidates supreme dominance by downing spirited Muguruza.

Afp July 12, 2015

Serena is the first player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win the Wimbledon, the Australian Open and French Open in the same year. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON: Serena Williams won a sixth Wimbledon title on Saturday as the world number one became the oldest woman to win a Grand Slam crown with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Garbine Muguruza in Saturday’s final.

At 33 years and 289 days, Serena surpasses Martina Navratilova as the oldest player to win Wimbledon, or any Grand Slam, in the Open era.

Serena’s sixth Wimbledon crown brought with it a slew of other remarkable landmarks that underline her credentials as one of the greatest female athletes of all time.

The American’s 21st Grand Slam crown and 68th tour-level title earned her a cheque for £1.8 million.

But it is her legacy rather than her bank balance that concerns Williams these days and she now holds all four Grand Slam titles at the same time — the rare ‘Serena Slam’ she last achieved in 2002-03.

“It feels so good. Garbine played so well. I didn’t even know it was over because she was fighting so hard at the end. She will be holding this trophy very, very soon,” said Serena. “I’m happy it was such a great match. I can’t believe I am standing here with another Serena Slam.”

Serena is also the first woman to land the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back since she last won that difficult double in 2002.

Lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish for the first time since 2012 also leaves Serena needing only to defend the US Open to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to claim a calendar Grand Slam.

She is just one major title behind Graf on the Open era leaderboard and within three of all-time record holder Margaret Court’s tally of 24.

Regardless of her defeat, Muguruza, 21, has emerged as one of the brightest young stars on the women’s tour after a bravura display in her first Grand Slam final appearance that often left Serena rattled.

“I enjoyed it a lot. I don’t have words to say how I feel. I’m very proud and happy to be here,” said Muguruza. “A Grand Slam final for me is a dream come true and I also want to say congrats to Serena, showing that she’s world number one.”

Muguruza, born in Venezuela and raised in Barcelona, had insisted facing Serena was a task to be relished rather than feared.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2015.

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