With the likes of Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer in their ranks, the Spanish men have had little trouble making deep runs at grand slams in the last decade.
Now the women, or more specifically Garbine Muguruza, are following suit.
Muguruza reached her first major final by beating 13th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2 3-6 6-3 at Wimbledon and also became the first Spanish woman to make any grand slam final since Conchita Martinez 15 years ago at the French Open.
If the hard-hitting 21-year-old defeats Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova in Saturday’s finale, she would become the second Spanish woman to triumph at Wimbledon after Martinez — her Fed Cup captain — in 1994. Only two other Spanish women, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Lili de Alvarez — in the 1920s — have ever contested the final at tennis’ most prestigious event.
Muguruza lacks the variety of the ever popular Radwanska but packs a punch with her flat ground strokes from the back of the court. Radwanska, the 2012 finalist, met a similar type of player in the quarterfinals in Madison Keys but on Thursday, the 20th seed wasn’t as generous with her unforced errors in the early stages.
She attacked Radwanska’s modest serves, drilled balls in the corners and didn’t give the Pole any time to work her off-speed magic.
When the Venezuelan-born Muguruza led 3-1 in the second set and had Radwanska at deuce, the end seemed near.
But perhaps the occasion got to Muguruza. Or maybe the inconsistency that can pop up in her matches surfaced.
It could have been a combination of the two.
Whatever the reason, Radwanska was certainly grateful. Muguruza’s errors increased but Radwanska was able, too, to move her opponent around the court. She claimed six straight games to lead 1-0 by a break in the third.
With Muguruza doing the majority of the dictating, the contest was always on her racket. If she could rediscover her form, Radwanska would find it difficult.
She did, breaking for 4-2 following a terrific exchange. Radwanska’s volley off her shoe tops somehow crept over the net yet Muguruza raced to the ball and replied with a perfect, deep lob before putting away a backhand.
Radwanska had one final opportunity, however, holding two break points at 3-5. On the first, a big serve from Muguruza paved the way for a drive volley winner. On the second, Radwanska’s second serve return clipped the top of the tape — and landed on her own side.
A drive-volley winner near the net sealed the two-hour affair, Muguruza then dropping her racket and falling face first onto the grass.
Williams played Sharapova in the second semifinal. The world No. 1 Williams, having beaten Sharapova 16 straight times, is favored to join Muguruza on Center Court on Saturday. The American surely wouldn’t take Muguruza lightly: Williams lost to Muguruza at the French Open last year and conceded a set to her younger rival at this year’s Australian Open.