Garbine Muguruza beats Venus Williams in straight sets in the Wimbledon women's final: As it happened
Relive the 2017 Wimbledon final between Muguruza and Williams
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Your support makes all the difference.An inspired Garbine Muguruza stormed to her first Wimbledon title on Saturday, blowing away in-form American Venus Williams 7-5 6-0 with arguably the performance of her career after tight and tense early exchanges.
In the first women's final played under the Centre Court roof, a high-quality first set gradually built towards a captivating conclusion after both players began with two comfortable service holds.
Muguruza saved two set points in the 10th game, the first a 19-stroke rally that ended when Williams netted a forehand. The Spaniard broke in the following game when another lung-bursting rally ended on a forehand error from the American.
An astonishing defensive lob in the next then took Muguruza to two set points, the second of which she converted.
That three-game sequence seemed to break the resolve of the American who, trying to become the oldest woman to win Wimbledon for 109 years, lost the second set to love in an equally astonishing turnaround.
The Venezuela-born 23-year-old sealed her second grand slam victory after a successful Hawkeye challenge of a Williams forehand that sailed just beyond the baseline.
Relive the dramatic final below…
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Muguruza* 7-5 1-0 Williams
A hugely important game for Williams, this, and she's having a little trouble. She gets herself to 40-30 but then slams an attempted winner down the line into the net, and we're at deuce. Moments later she repeats her mistake: and Muguruza has a break point!
This really could be it for Williams ... but she defends the break point with a thumping crosscourt forehand. Muguruza reaches it, but pings her own shot well long.
Williams then makes another forehand error although believes she's defended the break point with an ace. But the Spaniard challenges the call and Hawk Eye shows the ball was out by a considerable distance.
So, a lot of pressure on this second serve ... and Williams double-faults! Muguruza breaks at the beginning of the second set.
Muguruza 7-5 2-0 Williams*
Venus is really beginning to struggle. She strides forward to attack Muguruza's tame second serve at the beginning of this game, but cracks her backhand into the net. Ditto on the second point. She's started to repeatedly pat down the turf on the baseline and looks unhappy with the surface, but she's making some really basic, avoidable errors that cannot be blamed on the grass.
She shanks a backhand wide and shakes her head. And, despite pulling the next couple of points back, goes on to lose the game thanks to another unforced error.
Muguruza* 7-5 5-0 Williams
Williams has gone to pieces. Three successive backhand errors hand Muguruza three break points. She only needs one. She strides forward and wins the next point at the net, and will now serve for the tournament.
Muguruza 7-5 6-0 Williams
The Spaniard holds to 30 and is the new Wimbledon champion!
It's now time for the trophy presentation and interviews with the new Wimbledon champion and runner-up.
And here's Garbine Muguruza:
"I had the hardest match today against Venus. She's such an incredible player and I grew up watching her play so it was so hard playing her today. She was an inspiration, and I feel incredible to play her here.
"I was nervous of course. I always dreamed to play here, but I was composed I guess. The first set was very tough and we both had lots of chances, but I'm glad I made it.
"I want to thank my team that's here. Two years ago I lost in final to Serena and she said I would win one today, and two years later here I am. There will be a big party to celebrate for sure."
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