Venus Williams
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FOOTBALL | Page 4 CRICKET | Page 7 Mourinho Mithali hits open to ton as India signing make semis of Ibra again women’s WC Sunday, July 16, 2017 TENNIS Shawwal 22, 1438 AH Federer on verge GULF TIMES of Wimbledon immortality SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Muguruza stunned by Dream victory at Wimbledon AFP London arbine Muguruza said it felt comes “incredible” to become Wim- bledon champion even if it did mean defeating childhood idol GVenus Williams. The 23-year-old Spaniard claimed a 7-5, 6-0 win over the 37-year-old fi ve- time champion after saving two set points in the opener. “I had the hardest match today true for against Venus. She’s such an incredible player and I grew up watching her play... sorry,” Muguruza told the Centre Court crowd. It was her second Grand Slam title to add to her 2016 French Open victory. She had also been runner-up to Serena Williams in the 2015 Wimbledon fi nal. “I feel incredible to be able to play Ve- nus here. Of course I’m nervous because Garbine I always dreamed about winning it, but I was composed,” she said. Spaniard upsets Venus Williams to Muguruza was coached at Wimbledon by Conchita Martinez, the fi rst Spanish grab second major of her career woman to lift the trophy at the All Eng- land Club in 1994. Martinez was standing in for Sam AFP Sumyk who sat out Wimbledon to stay at London home with his pregnant wife. When asked if she had a message for Sumyk, Muguruza lifted the trophy to- arbine Muguruza stormed to wards the TV camera. her first Wimbledon title and “Here it is,” she said. shattered Venus Williams’ Williams, playing in her ninth Wim- history bid with a majestic bledon fi nal, had two set points in the G opener. 7-5, 6-0 victory in yesterday’s final. Muguruza overwhelmed Williams Runner-up: Venus Williams However, she was unable to convert with a supreme display of power hit- them and Muguruza won all of the re- ting in 77 minutes on Centre Court watched by a sell-out crowd including maining nine games of the fi nal. to become only the second Spanish Hollywood actress Hilary Swank. “Congratulations Garbine. I know woman to win Wimbledon. Twenty years ago, Venus admitted how hard you work and I’m sure this Watched from the Royal Box by King she was a bundle of nerves when means so much to you and your family,” Juan Carlos of Spain, the 23-year-old she made a losing Wimbledon debut said the American. finally got her hands on the Venus against Magdalena Grzybowska and, “Thanks to my team who have been Rosewater Dish two years after losing in her ninth All England Club final, here day in and day out.” to the American’s sister Serena in her once again there was anxiety coursing She also spared a thought for sister maiden Wimbledon final. through her error-strewn display. Serena, the seven-time champion at Fittingly, it was Muguruza’s current Fortified by a cross-court winner to Wimbledon, who did not defend her title coach Conchita Martinez who was the bring up break point at 3-2, Williams this year as she prepares to give birth to first woman to raise the Spanish flag at looked poised to seize control, but her fi rst baby next month. Wimbledon in 1994 when she defeated instead a tame forehand into the net “I miss Serena,” said Williams who Martina Navratilova. to let Muguruza off the hook. won just 12 points in the 24-minute sec- “The first set was tough. We both had It was the first of a series of vital es- ond set. “I tried my best to do the things a lot of chances. I’m glad I took mine,” capes for Muguruza, who was match- you do — but I think there will be other Muguruza said. ing Venus blow for blow in a series of opportunities.” “Two years ago I lost in the final bruising baseline rallies. against Serena and she told me Gifted two set point at 4-5, Venus FIVE FACTS ON MUGURUZA I would win one day. Here I am. couldn’t deliver the knockout blow Hey Venezuela — Muguruza was born in the Finally!” and Muguruza over-powered her in a Venezuelan capital of Caracas in October, 1993. Venezuela-born Muguruza’s second gripping rally to save the first before Her mother Scarlet Blanco is from the South Grand Slam title, following her French scrambling out of trouble on the American country and Muguruza holds dual Open triumph last year, denied Wil- second. Muguruza had the momen- Spanish-Venezuelan nationality. Father Jose is a Spanish-Basque. liams, 37, in her attempt to become the tum now, her piercing ground-strokes oldest Wimbledon champion in the gradually moving Williams into Paris — mon amour et bete noire — Mugu- Open era.Back in the Wimbledon final enough awkward areas to land the ruza won the French Open title in 2016 but her after an eight-year absence, Williams crucial first break at 5-5. defence ended in tears and controversy this had hoped to clinch a sixth All England Williams was rattled by Muguruza’s year after she accused the Roland Garros crowd as being “disrespectful” for their behaviour Club title, nine years after she last barrage, fatally allowing the Spaniard’s towards her as she lost to home star Kiki lifted the trophy. lob to drop in and present her with set Mladenovic. While she conducted a tearful news Instead, she paid the price for a points that she gleefully gobbled up. conference, coach Sam Sumyk described the surprisingly nerve-ridden display that Muguruza was just six when Venus Paris fans as “pathetic”. condemned her to a second Grand first won Wimbledon and the 23-year- Coaching row — Muguruza was accused of Slam disappointment this year fol- old’s third major final appearance was being illegally ‘coached’ from her player’s box lowing her Australian Open final loss dwarfed by Williams’ 16 Grand Slam by vanquished Wimbledon quarter-final op- against Serena. title matches. ponent Svetlana Kuznetsova. “It was pretty clear because we all speak Spanish here. She was “Congratulations Garbine. I know how But in all those finals, only Serena had talking to her all the time. It’s her physio. I mean, hard you work,” Williams said. produced the lethal power and poise I know she acts like this all the time. I don’t think “I tried my best to do the things Muguruza was showing and suddenly it’s appropriate,” said the Russian. Serena does, but I think there will be Williams was beginning to look her age. other opportunities.” Still reeling from the shock of losing the Been there, done that — Muguruza enlisted the help of 1994 Wimbledon champion and Since winning her maiden Grand first set, she served up a limp double fellow Spaniard Conchita Martinez for her All Slam title in Paris, Muguruza had fault on break point to hand Muguruza England Club campaign. “I think she’s helping endured something of a sophomore the lead at the start of the second set. me to deal with the stress of the tournament, slump as her ranking dropped out of Williams was shattered and Muguruza because it’s a long tournament,” Muguruza said of her 45-year-old compatriot who filled in for the top 10. went for the kill so ruthlessly that in Sumyk, missing Wimbledon due to his wife’s But she has rediscovered her mojo the blink of an eye she had broken pregnancy. on grass and will climb to fifth when twice more to take a 5-0 lead. the new rankings are confirmed next Muguruza had spoken eloquently this Master chef — After winning the 2016 French week. week of etching her name onto the Open, Muguruza admitted she relaxes by cook- ing, mostly desserts. “Anything with sugar, not Remarkably, of her four tour-level Wimbledon honours board alongside with salt. Cakes and cookies. Oreo brownie is titles, two are now Grand Slams. Venus, Serena and the other All Eng- the best one,” she said. However, her time in the With persistent drizzle blanketing the land Club icons. kitchen while at Wimbledon this year almost All England Club, Williams and Mugu- It took one last blizzard of thunderous ended in disaster. “Every time I come to Wimble- don, a lot of things happen in the house. I love ruza were competing in the first Wim- winners to ensure her dream would Spain’s Garbine Muguruza poses with The Venus Rosewater Dish as she celebrates red meat. We were doing nice steaks but there bledon final to begin under the roof, come true. after beating Venus Williams of the US to win the women’s singles title on the twelfth was so much smoke that the fire alarm was, like, day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships yesterday. Muguruza won 7-5, 6-0. under where you cook. I’m like, ‘Why do you put a fire alarm there?’ Gulf Times 2 Sunday, July 16, 2017 TENNIS PREVIEW Serena hints been really good,” she said. “Sometimes I am walking in at delayed my house, and I’m like, ‘I really like being pregnant.’ I never comeback thought I would say that. I am definitely [the type] that enjoys it.” Williams said she has also Federer on verge had none of the typical preg- nancy food cravings. “I don’t have the cravings, so I’m a little disappointed with that.