Venus Williams and Garbine Muguruza will lock horns on Saturday afternoon in the final of the Wimbledon Championships. It will be the fifth meeting between the two players, but their first in a grand slam tournament. With a lot at stake for both players, here are five facts about their upcoming clash.
1) The winner will claim their first title of 2017
Whoever clinches the Wimbledon trophy will claim their first title of the season. During their careers, Williams has won a total of 49 titles compared to Muguruza’s tally of 3. Furthermore, she has also already played a grand slam final this year, losing to sister Serena at the Australian Open.
On the other hand, Muguruza has played and won more matches on the tour this season than the American (29-26). She is also the most recent grand slam champion out of them both. Muguruza claimed her first major title at the 2016 French Open. Meanwhile, Williams’ last success at this level was nine years ago at the 2008 Wimbledon Championships.
Overall, Williams has played 323 grand slam main draw matches compared to her opponent’s 65. Currently the American has a winning average of 80% (257-66) and Muguruza is at 74% (48-17).
2) Both are ranked outside the top-10
In the WTA rankings both women are ranked outside the top-10 with Muguruza at 15th and Williams at 11th. This means for only the fifth time since the induction of the WTA ranking system in 1975 a non top-10 player will lift the title. On two previous occasions Williams has won the title as a lower ranked player. In 2005 (ranked 16th) and 2007 (ranked 31st).
Wimbledon champions ranked outside the top-10 (since 1975)
2007 – Venus Williams USA (31)
2005 – Venus Williams USA (16)
2004 – Maria Sharapova RUS (15)
2013 – Marion Bartoli (FRA (15)
2017 – ???
Whoever wins the title will re-enter the world’s top-5. Williams could rise to fourth in the world, her highest position since October 2010. Meanwhile, Muguruza could rise to fifth after dropping out the top-five in May.
3) Williams’ Age record
37-year-old Williams is already the oldest player to contest a women’s final since Martina Navratilova in 1994. Should she win, the American would be the oldest grand slam champion in the Open era, breaking sister Serena’s record at this year’s Australian Open (34 years and 287 days).
Williams would still not be the oldest women’s champion in Wimbledon history. The record is currently held by 1908 champion Charlotte Sterry of great Britain, who lifted the title at 37 years and 282 days. Williams’ age is currently 37 years and 28 days.
During this year’s Wimbledon championships, Williams defeated three players who were born after she made her Wimbledon debut in 1997. Jelena Ostapenko, Ana Konjuh and Naomi Osaka.
4) Muguruza’s bid to join an elite club
Bidding to become the first Spanish female winner at SW19 since Conchita Martinez in 1994, Muguruza could also become one of the few Multiple grand slam champions on the tour. If she achieves this, the 23-year-old would become only the eighth active player to do so.
In the Open Era only one Spanish female has won multiple major titles. Arantxa Sanchez Vicario won three French Open titles as well as one at the US Open during her career.
Active players with Slam titles
Serena Williams – 23
Venus Williams – 7
Maria Sharapova – 5
Victoria Azarenka – 2
Angelique Kerber – 2
Svetlana Kuznetsova – 2
Petra Kvitova – 2
5) The Spain Vs. America rivalry
For only the fifth time in the Open Era a grand slam women’s final will see players from America and Spain clash. Muguruza has participated in two of the previous clashes. Losing to Serena Williams at Wimbledon in 2015 before getting her revenge the following year in Roland Garros.
Overall Muguruza is aiming to win Spain’s 7th grand slam title in women’s tennis since 1968. Meanwhile, Williams is seeking the 86th for America.
Previous USA – Spain clashes
Wimbledon 1994 (Conchita Martínez defeated Martina Navratilova)
Roland Garros 1998 (Arantxa Sánchez Vicario defeated Monica Seles)
Wimbledon 2015 (Serena Williams defeated Muguruza)
2016 Roland Garros (Muguruza defeated S.Williams)
