Venus Williams appeared to be on the verge of taking control of another Wimbledon championship.
Little did she know that the next four points would lead to her total collapse and ultimately probably decide this Wimbledon women’s championship.
How could that be? It was seemingly only at the midway point of the match.
All Venus had to do was to win one of the next two points to take the first set against Garbine Muguruza. Yes, Venus held double set point.
MUGURUZA WOULDN’T QUIT
Muguruza had just begun to fight. The tall Spaniard dominated those next four points and the last nine games in an unimaginable 7-5, 6-0 rout of Williams on the worn-down grass of Centre Court, a venue she practically owned while advancing to her ninth Wimbledon final.
Muguruza out-hit and outplayed Venus in those four points.
A 19-shot rally started those four points that would end the 10th game and even the first set at 5-5. The last shot of that long rally might have looked like an almost harmless error by Williams as a forehand from deep in the corner sailed into the net.
THREE POINTS TO GO
Venus still had another set point.
But Muguruza hit one of her thunderous serves into Venus’ forehand. The return went well long.
Suddenly, it was deuce. This first set wasn’t over. Muguruza wasn’t finished. Venus was, although she continued to fight.
After a second serve, Muguruza nailed two forehands deep into Venus’ forehand corner, the second one drawing a weak forehand floater that Muguruza pounced on for a forehand winner.
With game point for 5-5 on her racket, Muguruza put a first serve into play. The second of two backhands by the Spaniard pinned Venus to the corner. Venus’ forehand sailed long to end the game.
VENUS’ SHOTS NO MATCH FOR SPANIARD
A proud Venus Williams continued to fight, but her ground strokes were no match for Muguruza’s powerful, and suddenly consistent game. Venus couldn’t find a weakness on the other side of the net as she dropped service and Muguruza held to take the first set.
There was still hope in the Williams corner as the first game of the second set was an extended one before Muguruza prevailed in breaking Venus again.
Despair quickly set in as Muguruza became unstoppable with her big game. Venus won only a few points the rest of the way.
LEARN THE NAME: MUGURUZA
Now a winner of two Grand Slam events, Muguruza is halfway to a career Grand Slam. And this 6-0, 23-year-old may get there quicker than anyone thought.
Muguruza may be the closest thing to another Serena Williams the WTA Tour has seen in a long time. Muguruza has the talent for the job and a Rafa Nadal-like determination.
The tennis world might as well become familiar with the name Muguruza.
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James Beck is the long-time tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper. He can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com. See his Post and Courier columns at
