Serena Williams has won her fourth Wimbledon title and 13th Grand Slam championship by sweeping Vera Zvonareva in straight sets in a one-sided final that lasted just 67 minutes and showed why Williams is considered one of the greatest players of all time. The top-ranked and defending champion American beat the 12th-seeded Russian 6-3, 6-2 to extend the Williams family dominance at the All England Club.
Williams won 31 of 33 points when her first serve was good. She hit her fastest serve—122 mph—for an ace in the final game. She finished the tournament with a record 89 aces. Williams also won all 14 points when she came to the net, and had 29 winners to only nine for Zvonareva. Williams served nine aces, broke three times and never faced a break point. She finished the tournament without dropping a set.
Williams (who improved her record to 13-3 in Grand Slam finals) added to the Wimbledon titles she won in 2002, 2003 and 2009. This was the first time she defeated someone other than her sister Venus in the final. The Williams sisters have now won nine of the last 11 Wimbledon titles.
This win ensured Williams moved ahead of Billie Jean King, with 13 Grand Slam titles (the most of any active woman player) to go sixth on the all-time list. "This one is very special. Billie Jean, I got you," Williams told her compatriot who was watching on from the Royal Box. Williams graciously congratulated Zvonareva, who played in her first Grand Slam final and was the second-lowest ranked women’s finalist ever at Wimbledon.
“Everyone should give her a big round of applause,” Williams said. "I'd like to congratulate Vera, she has been through so much and she defines what a champion and never giving up means." Williams won what the media termed the "Serena Slam," taking four major titles in a row in a noncalendar year. And she is the only player in this generation to even come close.
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