Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Venus Williams took her biggest title in more than five years in Wuhan when an injured Garbine Muguruza was forced to retire hurt with Williams leading 6-3 3-0 in Saturday’s final.

Muguruza sustained an ankle/foot injury in Friday’s semis-finals against Angelique Kerber.

Top seeds Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza won the doubles title with a straight sets win over Romanians Irina-Camelia Begu and Monica Niculescu. Hingis is unbeaten in Wuhan after winning the doubles with Flavia Pennetta in 2014, the tournament’s first year.

Quick facts:
This was Williams 47th title in her 77th career final
Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open is a WTA Premier 5 event
Williams received USD$456,000 for winning; Muguruza received USD$227,700
Williams was unseeded in Wuhan; Muguruza was seeded 5th
She saved a match-point against Roberta Vinci in Friday’s semi-finals
This was Williams’ most prestigious title in five years, since Dubai 2010
This is Williams’ second title of the year following victory in Auckland in January
At 35, Williams was the oldest player in the singles draw
Williams, currently ranked 24 in the WTA Rankings, will go back inside the Top 15 (at 14) when new standings are released on Monday
Muguruza will rise to a career high ranking of No.5 despite today’s result

Player Quotes

Venus Williams:
I feel like everyone else on tour, I work hard, I do my best and as long as you continue to work hard and believe in yourself then you can have the results you want. That’s exactly what I’ve done and it hasn’t been the easiest road but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a road worth travelling.

I didn’t think of quitting but it’s definitely a lot of stress to play when you’re in pain. But for me I focus on everything that I can accomplish and not on what’s bothering me. My opponent wasn’t so lucky today. The pain was just too much for her and I was really sorry to hear that.

Today, we both play really similar. Maybe experience helped me today. I know today she couldn’t do everything that she wanted to do. She couldn’t feel free and comfortable on the court. Of course it’s not always as exciting playing an opponent who doesn’t feel their best so I hope that she gets better.

On playing China Open, Beijing, next week:
I absolutely do want to play in Beijing. I want to do everything I can to be ready to play and I want to be as close to 100% as possible, that’s the goal.

Garbine Muguruza:
I had pain the ankle since yesterday. I’ve played a lot of matches and today my body had pain everywhere. I didn’t have much time to recover from yesterday. There is nothing you can do when it’s like this. I guess I didn’t recover.

I was feeling very tired but I said that I am going to the court even if my leg is, like broken. I woke up saying, “come on, I’m going to play,” but during the match I was like, ‘oh shit, I’m getting tired, my leg is hurting, my ankle is hurting.’ In the first set I had my chances but with Venus it’s hard. If you’re not 100% percent fit you can’t find a way to play against her.

On playing China Open, Beijing next week:
We’re going to try and work some miracles now because Beijing is also really important. I’m going to see how I wake up tomorrow. I’m going to try, like today.

FINAL RESULTS
Singles Final
V. Williams (USA) d [5] G. Muguruza (ESP) 63 30 Retired
Doubles Final
[1] M. Hingis (SUI) / S. Mirza (IND) d I. Begu (ROU) / M. Niculescu (ROU) 62 63

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.