Muguruza’s win reminiscent of a young Serena Williams

4:58 PM ET

PARIS — A stylish, soaring Spaniard won the championship here at Roland Garros on Saturday, a familiar sight — except that this was on the women’s side.

It was unquestionably one of those defining moments, when the established champion is unceremoniously unseated by a younger, hungrier rival.

Serena Williams, at 34, was already the oldest women’s world No. 1 as well as the oldest Grand Slam champion of the Open era. She had won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, but was nursing an adductor injury, which seemed to limit her mobility.

Garbine Muguruza, a 22-year-old born in Venezuela but playing under the Spanish flag, was seeking her first-ever major. She was clearly nervous at the outset of their French Open final, but soon settled into a series of bold strokes and a general air of fearlessness.

Serena Williams has now failed to win a Grand Slam event in her past three attempts. Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

On yet another damp, chilly day at Roland Garros, Muguruza raced away with the momentous match, 7-5, 6-4.

“This is a big tournament in Spain,” Muguruza told the Philippe Chatrier crowd in Spanish, “and Rafa is our champion.”

And now, it’s Muguruza.

It was breathtaking to behold, reminiscent of a 17-year-old Williams taking down Martina Hingis for her first Grand Slam singles championship at the 1999 US Open. That was, incredibly, nearly 17 years ago.

Muguruza is the youngest major champion since Victoria Azarenka won the 2012 Australian Open.

Yes, more than a dozen years separate Williams and Muguruza — an eternity in terms of professional tennis — and, frankly, they both looked their respective ages. Williams, playing for the fourth consecutive day because of the rain, seemed to be out of sorts, …

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