LONDON — After feeling the full force of Garbine Muguruza's ferocious forehand and being made to scrap like a bloodied street fighter, Serena Williams has seen enough of the Spaniard to make a bold prediction -- soon she will be a Wimbledon champion too.
There is little solace to be had when you are beaten into second place unless your opponent, one of the greatest talents in the sport's history, believes you are destined to lift one of tennis's greatest prizes.
As the tears flowed freely at the end of Muguruza's 6-4 6-4 defeat, she was given a rousing reception by the Centre Court crowd, who certainly got their money's worth from a gripping final in which both players attacked relentlessly.