Garbiñe Muguruza beats Serena Williams to win French Open title – as it happened

Spare a thought for Serena Williams, who’s still stuck on 21 grand slam titles, one short of Steffi Graf. She does well to keep a smile on her face as she collects her runners-up trinket. She wasn’t at her best today, which can be attributed both to her injury and to Garbine Muguruza’s injury in equal measure, and this is another bitter pill for her to swallow after her disappointments in Melbourne and New York. But it’s Garbine Muguruza’s day. She’s been threatening to make her breakthrough for a while - it’s fitting that the world first took notice of her when she stunned Williams here in the second round two years ago - and you suspect that this will be the first of many titles for Muguruza. She’s only 22. There’s a lot more to come from this wonderful Spaniard. That’s all from me today, though. Thanks for reading and emailing. Bye!

Garbine Muguruza is the first Spanish woman to win here since Arantxa Sánchez Vicario beat Monica Seles in the final in 1998.

A beaming, laughing, brilliant Garbine Muguruza speaks! “I’m so excited. To play a final of a grand slam against one of the best players, I’m so happy. Serena’s a very powerful player so I had to be ready and concentrate on all the points. I just tried to fight as much as I can. All the matches I played against her helped me. In Spain, this is the tournament. Rafa has helped that cause.”

Serving for the title, Muguruza makes the perfect start when Williams wastefully skews a backhand long for 15-0. Muguruza is three points away now. And she edges even closer when she forces Williams on the run with a forehand into the right corner. Williams can only hoick her riposte into the sidelines and Muguruza has three more championship points - it’s 40-0 - when Williams batters a backhand just past the baseline at the net! What a miss! The umpire goes down to check but the call was correct. Here it is, the moment of truth. Williams attacks. She pings a forehand into the left corner and approaches the net. Muguruza is there. What can she do? She goes for a lob. She lifts her backhand over Williams, who’s stranded. It’s high enough. But is it going to drop in time? Time seems to stand still as Williams hares back. For a moment, she seems to relax. It looks like it’s going long. But no! This is a cruel sport. Right at the last, the ball falls from the sky and Williams, grinding to a halt, can only watch in despair as it kisses the baseline and spins away! That’s it! Garbine Muguruza is the new French Open champion!

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Second set: Williams* 5-7, 4-5 Muguruza (*denotes server): With Williams serving to stay in the final, Muguruza is two points from victory after the world No1 hoicks a backhand long to make it 15-30. Soon Muguruza has two championship points, Williams netting another backhand. Two championship points! The first goes begging when Muguruza stiffs a backhand into the net, though, and Williams saves the second with a snorter of a serve down the middle. Muguruza earns a third championship point, though, cracking a forehand return down the line, Williams sliding and slicing long. But this is absurd from Williams, who keeps herself in contention with a forehand winner. Deuce. This is tense. This is gripping. Muguruza has a fourth championship when Williams nets a drop shot. She attacks a second serve - but her backhand from left to right flashes just wide! We’re dealing in fine margins now. The line separating glory and despair is a thin one. And worryingly for Muguruza, Williams is stirring, responding to the challenge, thriving on it. She earns a game point and holds when Muguruza, who’s seen four championship points come and go, sends a forehand long. Muguruza will serve for the title in a moment or two. But what on earth must be going through her mind now?

Second set: Williams 5-7, 3-5 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Muguruza has done well to hold herself together so far but her nerves are clearly frayed. Once again she starts the game with a double-fault, her fifth of the match. But she draws level when Williams misses a backhand return and a iron-willed Muguruza ace makes it 30-15. Mugurza holds to 15 with another ace. She is so close now. So close that she really shouldn’t think about how close she is. Williams will serve to stay in the final.

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Second set: Williams* 5-7, 3-4 Muguruza (*denotes server): Williams holds to 15 with an ace. That could be crucial.

Second set: Williams 5-7, 2-4 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Muguruza gives Williams a look with a double-fault on the first point. But she wins the next three points, largely thanks to some wayward shots from Williams, and holds to 15. Impressive. Two more holds and the title’s hers. But that’s easier said than done.

Second set: Williams* 5-7, 2-3 Muguruza (*denotes server): Williams appears to have this game in the bag after winning the first three points. But 40-0 becomes 40-30. Muguruza isn’t going anywhere without a fight. But Williams won’t shy away from one. She lets out a huge cry after holding to 30 with an accurate forehand pass down the line.

Second set: Williams 5-7, 1-3 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Muguruza cruises into a 30-0 lead again. Williams won’t give her a moment’s rest, cracking a forehand away off a second serve for 30-15. But Muguruza is close to the first hold of the second set when Williams pulls a forehand wide for 40-15. Williams responds with an improbable backhand winner down the line but Muguruza holds to 30 with a pinpoint forehand from right to left.

Second set: Williams* 5-7, 1-2 Muguruza (*denotes server): Muguruza needs to get that game out of her system. And she takes a big step towards doing so by taking a 15-30 lead thanks to splendid forehand and backhand winners. All of a sudden, she has two break points, Williams stooping and netting a backhand, and Muguruza converts the first of them, spanking a forehand down the line! What a response! She’s ahead again! But for how long?

Second set: Williams 5-7, 1-1 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Muguruza will enjoy the sight of Williams netting another forehand to give up the first point. The Spaniard has to keep this momentum going. She’s got Williams right where she wants her and she can’t let her wriggle free. Here’s why. She’s up 30-0. Soon it’s 30-all. She should win the next point with a backhand at the net but hits the ball straight at Williams, who earns a break point when Muguruza nets a backhand. Muguruza saves it but she’s soon facing another after a double-fault. But she’s been brilliant in these situations and she constructs this point wonderfully, waiting for the opening and finishing the point with a backhand into the left corner, Williams helpless at the other end of the baseline. But a second double-fault gifts a third break point to Williams. A third hands her the break. That was dismal. Faintly predictable too. How often does it happen with Serena Williams?

Second set: Williams* 5-7, 0-1 Muguruza (*denotes server): Muguruza draws appreciative applause from the crowd with a splendid backhand return that catches the line and brings up two break points. She only needs one. Williams responds with a meek backhand into the net. Hmm. Muguruza leads by a set and a break.

Muguruza begins the game with predictable anxiety, a backhand clipping the tape and flying wide. She looks like she’s about to cough up a butterfly or two here but she finds her range with a backhand to make it 15-all. She’s going to have to be very good to hold off Williams, though, because she’s taking on a wounded animal now. Williams makes it 15-30, swinging through a lusty forehand volley, and Muguruza is scratching her head after a double-fault. But Muguruza shows amazing character to save both break points. Williams hits a forehand return wide on the first, before Mugurza pings an ace down the middle. Williams goes on the offensive, trying to earn a third opportunity. But Muguruza hangs in the rally and carves out a set point when Williams nets a forehand on the run. Is this fraught first set coming to an end? Nope. Williams denies Muguruza with a stout forehand volley. Muguruza has another chance when Williams nets another forehand. But she can’t dictate the rally and skitters a forehand wide. A third set point arrives when Williams nets another forehand. Talk about bloody-mindedness - and Muguruza maintains her composure enough to wallop a spectacular backhand past a stumbling Williams to wrap up the first set! Oof. What a battle of wills.

First set: Williams* 5-6 Muguruza (*denotes server): Williams begins the game with a double-fault. It’s less than ideal. So’s a dreadful, floaty drop shot that could almost pass for a lob, inviting Muguruza forward to ram a forehand away for 0-30. Muguruza lets Williams back into the game with two errant backhands. But she’s having us on. Then she earns a break point with a super backhand down the line for a 30-40 lead. Can she convert it? You betcha! A wicked low forehand into the right corner is a fitting way to polish off any game and Muguruza will serve for the first set. No pressure, Garbine.

First set: Williams 5-5 Muguruza* (*denotes server): We’re seeing some stunning shots now. Muguruza makes it 40-15 by wrongfooting Williams with a forehand down the line and she holds to 15 with a big backhand.

First set: Williams* 5-4 Muguruza (*denotes server): Williams looks to be in control at 30-0 but Muguruza clambers back into the game with two rasping forehand winners. Yet Williams makes it 40-30 with a brilliant forehand down the line and holds to 30. Muguruza will serve to stay in the set.

First set: Williams 4-4 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Williams bellows in frustration after missing a return at 0-15. “Oh my God,” she says when she nets to make it 30-15. The errors are beginning to creep into her game. Yet Muguruza nets a forehand for 30-all and Williams earns a break point with a crisp forehand winner. The pressure tells and the Williams camp are on their feet when Muguruza knocks a backhand long. There goes the break.

First set: Williams* 3-4 Muguruza (*denotes server): Williams holds to 15, chucking in an ace for good measure. But she had a warning from Muguruza, who stole a point with a screamer of a forehand return down the line. You get the feeling there’s a lot more to come from both of these two before the afternoon’s over. The early nerves are starting to fade.

First set: Williams 2-4 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Muguruza lands herself in a spot of bother when she double-faults to make it 0-30. It’s as though she’s remembered she’s a break up against Serena Williams. In the French Open final! Against Serena Williams! Eek! Is the pressure telling? Well, not for long. Muguruza fights back superbly, winning the next three points for a 40-30 lead, and she consolidates the break by wrapping up the game with a stunning forehand winner into the left corner. Williams wasn’t getting that scorcher back.

First set: Williams* 2-3 Muguruza (*denotes server): Having seen two break points come and go in the previous game, Williams needs to watch out here. She really needs to watch out! Because she begins the game by missing two backhands, Muguruza sailing into a 0-30 lead. Muguruza has woken up. She rips into a forehand, moves forward and looks on in satisfaction as Williams hits long to hand over three break points. Williams saves the first with an ace and Muguruza nets the second off a huge second serve. That was gutsy from Williams. But she was playing with fire and she burns herself after a double-fault on the third. Muguruza has started slowly but she’s got the first break, almost out of nowhere.

First set: Williams 2-2 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Neither player has found their return yet. Muguruza’s quickly into a 30-0 lead. But Williams gets herself into the next point. She pulls Muguruza forward with a drop shot and the Spaniard balloons an ugly backhand long and wide. She’s not turned up yet. She nets a forehand to make it 30-all and Williams earns a break point with a forehand winner. That seems to spark Muguruza into life and she saves it with some forceful, controlled tennis, forcing the error out of Williams with a big forehand. But Williams has another chance thanks to some snappy play at the net. It’s a good time for Muguruza to hit her first ace. Eventually, after an intense struggle, Muguruza clings on to her serve.

First set: Williams* 2-1 Muguruza (*denotes server): The early signs suggest that the Williams serve is working, not least when she moves into a 30-0 lead with a bouncing second serve ace that completely catches out Muguruza. The Spaniard hasn’t got going yet. She nets a forehand to make it 40-0. She can take some encouragement from a gorgeous backhand winner down the line for 40-15, but Williams holds without any drama.

First set: Williams 1-1 Muguruza* (*denotes server): Muguruza is still warming up here, pushing a forehand long for 15-all, but two big serves take her to 40-15. Williams nets a couple of returns. But then she finds her range, battering a backhand down the line off a tempting second serve. Muguruza does enough to hold to 30, though, Williams drifting a backhand wide.

First set: Williams* 1-0 Muguruza (*denotes server): And play! It seems that Garbine Muguruza won the toss and elected to receive, so it’s Serena Williams to get this French Open final underway. Here’s an early chance to assess her injury, then, and everything seems to be in full working order as she wins the first two points and takes a 40-0 lead with an ace. She holds to love, easy as you like.

It’s time. The final is about to begin. The atmosphere is building on Philippe-Chatrier.

Tok! Tok! Tokity tok! They’re knocking up. Williams looks fine. No sign of any injury at all. It was a ruse! Or was it? We’ll soon know for sure/

Here come the players! They’ve both given brief and terse interviewers in the tunnel, neither of them particularly happy to have to give up their valuable time to utter a few television-friendly inanities, but that’s out of the way now and they can concentrate on the main event.

The word from Eurosport’s Annabel Croft is that Serena Williams did not leave the practice court in the best of moods. She wasn’t chasing too many balls and failed to move with any fluency. At the end of the session, she sloped off without saying a word to her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. Don’t get carried away, though, it could all be an act, the prelude to a 6-0, 6-0 victory for the world No1.

On Eurosport, Jo Durie reckons that Serena Williams is annoyed with Marion Bartoli for letting the world know about her injury. It’s news that probably could have stayed in the locker room. But it only serves to make this final even more fascinating. Will it play on Muguruza’s mind, putting her off, relaxing her too much? Or will Williams simply not have enough movement?

While we wait for the players, perhaps we can draw inspiration from this Muhammad Ali quote:

Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”

Serena Williams needed all her resolve to win her quarter-final and semi-final matches. Now she’s in the final. She’s carrying an injury. We know she has the skill. But will she have the strength of character to deny Garbine Muguruza?

Bonjour! What’s your favourite number? 21 is useful in some cases. You’ll like seeing it if you’re playing Blackjack, for example, and you’ll like being it if you’re after a legal drink in America. But Serena Williams must be sick of 21 and not just because she spent last night watching this. When she won the Wimbledon final last year, the assumption was that William would be on 23 grand slam titles by the time she arrived at Roland Garros this year, a rare calendar slam in the bag, Steffi Graf’s Open era record obliterated, Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 titles in her sights.

And how wrong were we? First the chance to win all four majors in one year - for the first time since Graf’s golden 1988 campaign - slipped out of the world No1’s grasp when she was stunned in her US Open semi-final by the unfancied Italian outsider, Roberta Vinci, who didn’t even have the good grace to go on and win the bloody thing, losing the final to Flavia Pennetta. Devastated, Williams would not pick up her racket again in 2015, and although she was back for more at the start of this year, there was further disappointment when she lost to Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final.

Another shock, another slap in the face, another missed opportunity. Weaker women might have capitulated. At the age of 34, But not Williams, not when there are still new records to write. She remains the best there is and, though her place in the Hall of Fame was secured long ago, could yet become the best there was. One short of Graf’s haul of 22 titles, Williams is one win away from making more history.

But her opponent in today’s French Open final should not be underestimated. Williams knows Garbine Muguruza well. The young Spaniard was on the other side of the net in the Wimbledon final last year and she handled herself well in a 6-4, 6-4 defeat and although Williams leads their head-to-head record 3-1, that one defeat is informative, occurring in the second round of the French Open two years ago, Muguruza announcing herself as a major talent with a 6-2, 6-2 win. The 22-year-old – who could become the first Spanish woman to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen since Arantxa Sánchez Vicario beat the USA’s Monica Seles in 1998 - was excellent in her comprehensive semi-final victory over Sam Stosur and will surely take encouragement from the news that Williams, who looked shaky in victories over Yulia Putintseva and Kiki Bertens, is struggling with an adductor injury. If Williams can’t move properly against the world No4, Muguruza will have a wonderful chance of winning her first grand slam title.

One way or another, someone’s making some history today.

Play begins at: 2pm BST, 3pm in Paris, 9am ET.