Muguruza has the firepower to trouble the temperamental 20-time Grand Slam champion
History is on the line for Serena Williams on Saturday. Chasing her fourth consecutive Grand Slam, which is better known as the ‘Serena Slam,’ she has, at times, looked unstoppable in 2015.
Williams enters the final as overwhelming odds-on favourite at 1/7, and whilst few feel surprise finalist Garbine Muguruza can cause any problems, Serena will know better than to underestimate her Spanish opponent.
Muguruza is enjoying her best season on the WTA tour, with 21 wins from 33 matches. The talented 21 year old has already claimed the scalps of Wozniacki, Radwanska, and Carla Suarez Navarro in 2015, but it will be her biggest giant killing of all, against Serena in the 2014 French Open, that will give her belief come Saturday.
Garbine was little known at the time, but produced a stunning display of tennis to emphatically down Williams 6-2 6-2.
Since that point Serena has, admittedly, stepped up her game, claiming a monopoly of WTA titles.
Williams historically likes to do things the hard way however, and concentration lapses have been commonplace in almost all of her victories over the past year.
Her French Open triumph just one month ago in Paris was a perfect example of this, as the world number one lost a set in five of her seven matches. Similarly the American’s progress in this year’s Wimbledon has been anything but serene, with sets dropped against Victoria Azarenka, and the plucky Heather Watson.
One thing that can be relied upon on though is Williams coming through in a final set decider. Serena has won all 14 of her third sets this year, and statistically has the strongest record in the open era when put in this situation.
When the going gets tough, Serena is quite simply the best.
There is more than enough evidence to suggest that Garbine Muguruza can cause Williams trouble on Saturday. The Spanish number two will look to jump on any concentration lapses from Serena, and can claim a set before ultimately losing in three.
