Muguruza Beats Serena Williams to Claim the French Open Title

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Garbiñe Muguruza has officially arrived…

The 22-year-old Spanish/Venezuelan tennis player defeated World No. 1 Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4 at the French Open on Saturday to claim her first-ever Grand Slam title.

Muguruza’s win prevented Williams from tying Steffi Graf‘s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles for the third straight Grand Slam event.

In winning her first major, Muguruza used her powerful groundstrokes to keep Williams off-balance and overcame signs of nerves in the form of nine double-faults to pull off the upset win.

Muguruza also managed to deal with Williams’ dangerous serve, breaking three consecutive times from late in the first set to early in the second en route to beating Williams for the second time in three years at Roland Garros. In 2014, she handed Williams the worst loss of her Grand Slam career with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the second round.

After letting four match points slip away in the penultimate game, Muguruza served out the match at love, punctuated by a high lob that caught the baseline as Williams watched.

The winning shot drew a smile from Williams’ face and she applauded Muguruza, who put her face in her hands and fell on her back in the red clay of Court Philippe Chatrier as her coach Sam Sumyk jumped from his chair and raised both arms in the air.

“She has a bright future, obviously,” said Williams, who at 34 is 12 years older than her Spanish opponent. “She knows how to play on the big stage and … clearly, she knows how to win Grand Slams.”

Muguruza, who lost to Williams in the 2015 final at Wimbledon, became the first Spanish woman to win a Grand Slam title since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario won the last of her three French Open crowns in 1998.

“I can’t explain with words what this day means to me,” Muguruza said after the match. “You work all your life to get here.”

Muguruza became just the fifth different woman to defeat Williams in a Grand Slam final, joining Angelique Kerber, Samantha Stosur, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams — who beat her sister twice.

This year’s visit to Paris hardly could have started off more inauspiciously for Muguruza: She lost the very first set she played in the tournament, against 38th-ranked Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

But Muguruza turned things around from there. She won the next 14 sets she played, displaying the deep groundstrokes and take-the-ball-early aggressiveness that flustered Williams.

“I have grown up playing on clay,” Muguruza said during the trophy ceremony, “so for Spain, and for me, this is amazing.”

Muguruza Defeats Samantha Stosur to Reach Her First-Ever French Open Final

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Garbiñe Muguruza is one step away from claiming her first Grand Slam title…

The 22-year-old Spanish/Venezuelan tennis player annihilated Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4 to reach the final at the French Open, her second Grand Slam final in less than a year.

Muguruza was in outstanding form right from the get-go, racing to a 4-0 lead in the opening set before serving it out inside half an hour.

She broke again at the start of the second set, and despite Stosur breaking back she kept on taking the Australian’s serve apart to wrap up the win.

“I played very well until I led 5-2 in the second set and then she stepped up a gear and I became a bit nervous,” said Muguruza, who is looking to become the first Spanish woman to to lift the trophy at Roland Garros since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1998. “Emotions sometimes can be bad.”

Muguruza was seeded fourth going into the tournament, that seeding based largely on the rankings points she won by making it to her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon last year.

She next faces Serena Williams, the woman she faced in the women’s final at Wimbledon. And, while it may seem like a daunting task getting past the World No. 1, Muguruza did defeat Williams at the French Open in 2014.

Muguruza Defeats Shelby Rogers to Reach Her First French Open Semifinal

Posted on June 2, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a special first for Garbiñe Muguruza…

The 22-year-old Spanish/Venezuelan tennis player defeated American Shelby Rogers 7-5, 6-3 in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros to reach her first French Open semifinal.

To earn a place in her second Grand Slam final, Muguruza will face off against 2010 finalist Samantha Stosur.

Rogers, this year’s Cinderella story at the French, confidently broke Muguruza in the opening game. She quickly consolidated the break at love to open up a 2-0 lead before Muguruza responded with a hold at love of her own to reduce the deficit to a single break. This pattern continued for the majority of the set, with chances for the receiver to break coming few and far between.

But, Muguruza earned herself her first break points of the match in the eighth game but failed to convert as Rogers held firm, eventually going on to hold for a 5-3 lead. With her back against the wall once again, the No. 4 seed produced the goods, holding at love to force the world number 108 to serve for a one-set advantage.

In a crucial ninth game, Rogers was able to come within a point of taking the opening set, but Muguruza refused to back down. After hitting a big backhand winner down set point, Muguruza reeled off another three points in a row to break back in the knick of time.

With the score tied at 5-all, it was clear that Muguruza had found her rhythm. With some of the ball striking that earned her a place in last year’s Wimbledon final, Muguruza promptly held to love, before sneaking away with the opening set moments later, winning it 7-5.

In the second set, Muguruza showed no signs of slowing down; a hold at love promptly followed by a break to 15 putting her a set and 2-0 to the good. Despite Rogers’ best efforts to fight back, Muguruza managed to stay in control to win the second set 6-3.

“I feel great,” the Spaniard said in her post-match press conference. “Previous years, you know, I end the tournament in quarterfinals. This year I really wanted to, you know, go through. I think it’s great.

Muguruza Defeats Svetlana Kuznetsova to Reach Third Consecutive French Open Quarterfinal

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Make that three in a row for Garbine Muguruza…

The 22-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round to advance to the quarterfinals of the French Open for a third straight year.

The array of shots and maturity the No. 4 seed deployed in an intensely fought 6-3, 6-4 win against the 2009 champion strengthened the argument that Muguruza could soon be challenging Serena Williams for the top spot in women’s tennis.

Muguruza started at lightning pace, serving an ace with her first and third balls. In the last game, she stayed cool during five match points to finish off the 13th-seeded Russian.

Standing in the way of her second semifinal at a Grand Slam tournament is Shelby Rogers. The 108th-ranked American who’d never made it out of the third round at a major beat Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-4. The Romanian, seeded No. 25, is the third seeded player to fall to Shelby in her march to the quarterfinals.

Muguruza Defeats Petra Kvitova to Reach Semifinals at WTA Finals

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Garbine Muguruza has advanced to the semifinals at the WTA Finals in her first appearance.

The 22-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player beat former champion Petra Kvitova 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 on Friday to reach the semifinals.

Muguruza finished the round-robin stage 3-0 and needed to win only one set against Kvitova to earn a semifinal berth.

The other three players in the group all finished 1-2, but Kvitova advanced because of more sets won.

After losing to Muguruza, Kvitova needed the already-eliminated Lucie Safarova to beat Angelique Kerber without dropping a set, and her compatriot came through by winning 6-4, 6-3.

Kvitova will play Maria Sharapova, who won the other group, with Muguruza facing Agnieszka Radwanska in the other semifinal.

In a match that featured 15 breaks of serve, Muguruza converted her fourth match point with a backhand crosscourt volley to win in 2 hours, 33 minutes.

The Spaniard is also into the doubles semifinals with countrywoman Carla Suarez Navarro, and said the heavy workload is taking a toll.

“For sure I’m tired today,” Muguruza said. “It’s going to a challenge for me to see how much my body can handle, because now I don’t have a day off. It’s great to be in my position I think now, to be playing singles and doubles semifinals.”

Muguruza Defeats Angelique Kerber to Remain Undefeated at the WTA Finals

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Garbine Muguruza continues her winning ways…

The 22-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player, who won her first-ever match at her debut WTA Finals earlier this week, has improved to 2-0 in group-stage matches at the year-end event.

Muguruza, the tournament’s second seed, defeated Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4 Wednesday.

Muguruza broke Kerber twice in each set to wrap up the win in 1 hour, 38 minutes.

She’ll next play No. 4 seed Petra Kvitova later this week.

Muguruza Makes Winning Debut in Her First WTA Finals Appearance

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a winning debut for Garbine Muguruza.

The 22-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player won her first match at the WTA Finals.

Muguruza, the second-seed who was making her debut at the season-ending tournament, beat Lucie Safarova 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Monday.

Muguruza is the first Spaniard to play in the WTA Finals since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 2001.

“To go here, and play and win for the first time, it’s great,” Muguruza said. “So I feel now more calm, more in the tournament.”

Muguruza reached her first Grand Slam final this year at Wimbledon, losing to Serena Williams in straight sets.

She was the first Spanish woman to reach a Grand Slam final since Conchita Martinez lost the French Open final in 2000 and the first to do so at Wimbledon since Sanchez-Vicario in 1995 and 1996.

Next up for Muguruza will be Angelique Kerber in Wednesday’s evening session.

Muguruza Defeats Timea Bacsinszky at the China Open to Claim Second WTA Tour Title

Posted on October 12, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Garbine Muguruza has returned to the winner’s circle…

The 22-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan professional tennis player claimed her second career WTA Tour title on Sunday, but not without breaking a sweat.

Muguruza rallied in both sets in the China Open women’s final to defeat Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-4.

Muguruza trailed 5-2 in the opening set before winning five straight games to clinch it, then went down an early break in the second set before coming back yet again.

She’ll rise to a career-high ranking of No. 4 on Monday, while Bacsinszky will break into the top 10 for the first time.

“Definitely it’s a big achievement. I think, you know, to see you are improving, also on the tennis side, but in the rankings, it’s that moment when there’s only three more in front of me,” Muguruza said, smiling. “Three more. Three more.”

Muguruza struggled after her breakthrough performance at Wimbledon—where she reached the finals—losing in the second round of the US Open. But she has played some of her best tennis in the past two weeks. She also reached the final last week in Wuhan, retiring in the second set with a left ankle injury while trailing Venus Williams.

Hours after winning the China Open, Muguruza pulled out of this week’s Hong Kong Open. Organizers said she needed to recover from an ankle problem.

Muguruza Upsets Agnieszka Radwanska at Wimbledon to Reach First Grand Slam Final

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Garbine Muguruza is experiencing real splendor in the grass…

The 21-year-old half-Spanish/half-Venezuelan tennis phenom has reached the first Wimbledon final of her career after stunning No. 13 seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 at the All-England Club.

Muguruza, who was playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, showed few signs of nerves to claim a place in Saturday’s showdown against Serena Williams, who she defeated at the 2014 French Open.

Muguruza, the first Spanish woman to reach the finals at Wimbledon in 19 years, was the youngest of the four semifinalists but played with a maturity beyond her years. There were times when Radwanska had no answer to the world No 20’s consistent ball-striking.

Radwanska, whose previously disappointing year had been turned around by her upsurge of form on grass, was playing in her third semifinal here in the last four years, but the 2012 runner-up was frequently knocked out of her rhythm by Muguruza’s big ground strokes.

Radwanska was in trouble from the very first game, in which Muguruza converted her second break point. In the fifth game she broke again as Radwanska’s attempted drop shot landed in the net. When Radwanska served at 1-5 the Pole saved two break points, but in the following game Muguruza served out to love to take the opening set in just 34 minutes.

When Muguruza went 2-0 up at the start of the second set a swift finish looked likely, but Radwanska dug deep and quickly turned the momentum around. From 3-1 up Muguruza lost six games in a row as Radwanska leveled the match and struck the first blow in the deciding set.

The key to the second set was a tight game when Muguruza served at 2-3. Having fought back from 0-30 down, the Spaniard dropped serve for the first time in the match when Radwanska forced her into a forehand error. Two games later she was broken again and Radwanska went on to serve out for the set.

In the first game of the deciding set Muguruza saved a first break point with an ace but put a forehand long on the second. Radwanska was on a roll, but Muguruza responded in admirable fashion in the following game. Hitting a series of big returns, she broke to 15 to level at 1-1.

The set then went with serve until Muguruza broke to lead 4-2. At 15-40 the Spaniard won one of the points of the match. At the end of a thrilling rally, during which she hit a stunning defensive lob, Muguruza hit a decisive blow with a backhand winner.

Radwanska clung on to her serve in the next game but Muguruza was not to be denied and went on to serve out for victory. On Sunday she will attempt to become the first Spanish woman to win the title since Conchita Martinez in 1994.

Muguruza Becomes First Spanish Woman in 18 Years to Reach Wimbledon Semifinals

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Garbiñe Muguruza continues her winning ways…

The 21-year-old Spanish-Venezuelan tennis player defeated Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky 7-5, 6-3 in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

In the process, Muguruza became the first Spanish woman in 18 years to reach the semifinals at the All-England Club (the last was Arantxa Sánchez Vicario).

Muguruza, a rising star on the WTA tour, had to overcome a strong challenge from her Swiss opponent. The pair had previously battled in the third round of the Australian Open, and this match was equally hard fought from the get go, the opening game a display of clean, powerful hitting.

Bacsinszky’s unorthodox shots kept her well-defended against Muguruza’s attacking groundstrokes. With her unusual, over-rotated grip, which sometimes leaves the right-hander holding her racket in her left, Bacsinszky sliced and chopped and more than once caught Muguruza at the back of the court while dropping the ball in just behind the net. Recognizing her opponent’s ability on the court, Muguruza threw everything at her first serve, and it was she who won the crucial break in the final game of the first set.

Consecutive breaks at the start of the second set left the players back on level terms, but as the match wore on it became increasingly apparent that Bacsinszky’s bag of tricks was running low. At 4-3 and 15-all Muguruza dispatched one of Bacsinszky’s wacky slices with a commanding down-the-line forehand, then took the first of two break points and served out the match in an hour and 27 minutes.

It was Muguruza’s first Wimbledon quarterfinal, and after her win Muguruza said she was surprised that her first Grand Slam semifinal will be played on this surface, especially after she had claimed after her first grass tournament in Birmingham that she was “never coming back”.

Muguruza celebrated her victory by bunny-hopping about the court. “It was a very intense game, the last one,” she said, “so it was happiness and relief.” She was three when Sánchez-Vicario reached the second of her Wimbledon finals and while she is not considering her place in history just yet, you cannot doubt her growing assurance. “All this experience helps a lot when you believe that you can do it. So I’m going to be more confident.”

Muguruza, the tournament’s No. 20 seed, will next face No. 13 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Tag Archives: Garbiñe Muguruza