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Wimbledon 2015
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Garbine Muguruza celebrates her win over Agnieszka Radwanska. Photo: EPA

Garbine Muguruza faces Serena Williams in maiden Wimbledon final

Top seeded American blitzes Maria Sharapova in easy feast, setting up face-off with 21-year-old who is first Spanish woman since 1996 to contest championship title

Garbine Muguruza became the first Spanish woman to reach the Wimbledon final since 1996 as Agnieszka Radwanska was left rueing a botched Hawk-Eye challenge in the last game of her 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 loss on Centre Court yesterday.

Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario was the last Spanish woman to make the final at the All England Club, while Conchita Martinez was the last champion in 1994.

And five-time champion Serena Williams feasted on familiar prey with a superb 6-2, 6-4 victory over Maria Sharapova, her 17th win in a row over the Russian.

I got a bit nervous because it was a semi-final and it's a long time since I've been this far
Serena Williams

The 33-year-old Williams is now one match away from reinforcing her stranglehold on the women's game by holding all four grand slam titles at the same time, a feat she will achieve for the second occasion if she beats the 20th-seeded Spaniard, 21, in tomorrow's final.

"I'm so excited. I got a bit nervous because it was a semi-final and it's a long time since I've been this far," said Williams, who last reached the Wimbledon final in 2012.

"I'm excited to get through it. Maria played well and when she stepped up. I managed to step up. It wasn't easy."

The look on their faces says it all as Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams leave Centre Court at the All England Club. Photo: AFP

Sharapova could not deal with the ferocity of the Williams return, while her own serve crumbled as the American increased the pressure.

The Russian is one of the game's most powerful hitters, but looked overawed at times in the face of Williams' sledgehammer game.

The world No 1 launched an attacking barrage, breaking twice in the first set and once in the second, bringing up match point with an ace and thundering down another huge serve to clinch a one-sided victory. A final victory would give the American her 21st grand slam title - just one short of Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22.

Earlier, Muguruza endured some nervy moments before she secured her maiden grand slam final spot, seeing a 3-1 lead in the second disappear against the three-time semi-finalist.

Muguruza, who has only one tour title to her name, then took victory with a power-packed flowing forehand, her 39th winner of the contest.

"I have worked all my life for this, I have no words," said 20th seed Muguruza who will climb into the top 10 for the first time next week as a result of her performance at Wimbledon. "It was a tough match. Agnieszka has so much experience, but I just wanted to keep fighting."

Muguruza said she expected her family to fly to London to see tomorrow's final having told them to stay away so as not to jinx her progress.

"My mother, father and brother will come over - I didn't want them to come before in case things changed," she said.

Muguruza said she hoped for the best when Radwanska challenged a ball she believed to be out, but replays showed to be on the line. "I was praying it was on the line," she said of the challenge which took her to match point.

Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain during their women's singles semi-final. Photo: AP

With the Spaniard serving for the match at 6-2, 3-6, 5-3 and two points from victory at 40-40, Radwanska inexplicably stopped the next point mid-rally after hearing cries of "out, out" from people in her players' box who were convinced Muguruza's backhand had landed behind the baseline.

Radwanska hit the ball back over the net before calling out to the umpire for a late Hawk-Eye challenge as the Spaniard hit her next shot out, leaving Muguruza and the Centre Court crowd bewildered and wondering what was going on.

When Hawk-Eye showed its verdict there was no mistaking that the gamble had backfired - the ball had clipped the baseline.

Radwanska glared up at her coaching team with Muguruza one point away from reaching her debut grand slam final and a point later it was all over.

"I did it because I'm the one to decide if I challenge or not. Nobody can do that for me," the 2012 Wimbledon runner-up said. "It was 50/50 call. I decided to challenge. It wasn't a really good decision."

Had Radwanska not challenged, she would have won the point.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza can hardly believe it as she celebrates beating Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska in their women's semi-final match yesterday. Photo: AFP
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Muguruza faces Serena in maiden Wimbledon final
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