It wasn't done with the ease predicted, but Serena Williams proved again on Saturday that she is the finest women's tennis player of her generation, and perhaps the finest sportswoman, full stop.
Williams won her sixth Wimbledon title. Nearly 34 years old, she becomes the oldest grand-slam champion of the modern era. She has now won the last four major tournaments – the so-called 'Serena Slam'. She'll be trying to achieve the traditional 'Grand Slam' at the U.S. Open in August.
This was her 21st major title – one short of Steffi Graf, and three behind Margaret Court. In this form, you'd bet money she'll overtake them both.
These days, Williams talks a great deal about how tennis has become fun in her relative dotage. She doesn't need to prove anything. She plays because she enjoys it.
It didn't look like that at the outset. Facing 21-year-old newcomer Gabrine Muguruza, this was as jittery as we've ever seen her.
Williams began with three double-faults in the first game, and was broken.
The Spaniard didn't show any early traces of nerves. She wasn't playing at the very highest level, but was able to outstrip Williams' woeful performance.
We knew that wouldn't last, and it didn't.
As she came back into it, Williams began loudly berating herself after points she'd won. The internal battle was nearly as fascinating to watch as the one on the court.
She broke Muguruza for 4-4, then again for the set.
Understandably, Muguruza sagged. Williams was up 5-1 and easing toward the end. The crowd had grown disconsolate – they'd come all this way for a steamrolling.
But Muguruza had one more burst. She broke Williams, then held. It was 5-3.
Once again facing the greatest serve in the history of the women's game, Muguruza rushed out to 0-40 – three break points on offer. The crowd was suddenly back in it.
Williams reeled her in. It was at deuce. And then match point. Muguruza fought it off.
The game see-sawed back and forth for ten remarkable minutes. Given the stage and the stakes, it was the highlight of this tournament so far.
Muguruza broke Williams again, sending everyone rushing for the record books. Had any woman ever come back from a set down and 5-1 in a Wimbledon final? Answer: No.
But now trailing 4-5 and serving, Muguruza dipped again. It ended bizarrely, with a ball gone wide and Williams missing the call. She looked up at the umpire for assistance. When she realized she'd won, she only smiled. None of the flopping on the ground we've grown used to from winners. The crowd was baffled, and said nothing.
It was only as Williams walked to the net to shake hands that they caught on.
It was an anti-climactic way to finish what was, intermittently, a glorious final.
In her remarks, Williams' turned to her beaten opponent and said, "Don't be sad. You'll be holding this trophy very, very soon."
Perhaps. But given the way Williams continues to perform, soon could seem to Gabrine Muguruza like a long, long way off.
Cathal Kelly