More This one was for Spain.
Garbiñe Muguruza defeated five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams on Saturday in straight sets to capture her second career Grand Slam and became the first Spanish woman to win a Wimbledon singles title since Conchita Martínez in 1994.
Fittingly, Martínez has helped coach the 23-year-old in the absence of her regular coach, Sam Sumyk.
Martinez, who won Wimbledon back in 1994, also defeated a 37-year-old en route to victory by besting tennis legend Martina Navratilova.
“Well, I think I’m here because I’ve done a hard work before,” Muguruza said on Friday.
“The magic doesn’t happen just because somebody comes in, and all of a sudden you are incredible.
She has experience.” Muguruza and Martinez’s special post-match embrace was full of emotions: Even before the match, Muguruza was determined to find a way to have a Spanish woman’s name once again etched on the winners’ board at the All England Club.
“For the last years, you see a lot of Williams surnames,” Muguruza said, referring to the Williams sisters, who have combined to win a dozen Wimbledon singles titles.
“So I look forward to just have it there, I don’t know, to put a Spanish name back there.” On Saturday, dreams became reality.
After her stunning performance in the final against Venus in which she showed tremendous poise, Muguruza once again had country – first-and-foremost – on her mind.