Return Winners: The 2015 Wuhan Open final

An unseeded Venus Williams and up-and-comer Garbine Muguruza contested the Wuhan Open final.

The 2010s hadn’t been as kind to Venus Williams as the first decade of the millennium. Illness and injury slowed down her title-winning ways: In February 2014, she ended a 14-month drought with a win in Dubai, but nearly went another full year without a victory until she captured the Auckland Open in January 2015.

From that win until the US Open, Williams didn’t reach a final. At her first tournament after New York, in Wuhan, China, Williams entered the Premier event unseeded. She ended her no-finals run in emphatic fashion, having to overcome a match point in the semifinals against Roberta Vinci.

On the bottom half of the draw, 2015 Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza had less trouble advancing, only dropping one set on her way to the championship match.

Muguruza broke Williams’ serve right off the bat, but Venus answered back immediately. They traded breaks again, and Williams posted another one at 3-4 to take a 5-3 lead. She then proceeded to serve out the first set.

Spurred on by taking the first frame, Williams’ play continued to improve. However, hampered by an ankle injury, Muguruza was unable to keep up. After Williams took a 3-0 lead, Muguruza was forced to retire, giving Williams the title—her 47th and most prestigious one in five years. This win marked a return to peak form for Williams, as she's back up to No. 5 this week after two Grand Slam final appearances in 2017.

1

Muguruza reached her first WTA Premier-level final in Wuhan. Here other three career title-round appearances were at the International level (Hobart and Brazil) and a Grand Slam (Wimbledon).

2

This was Williams’ second career title in China. She captured the gold medal in doubles with her sister at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

'08

The last time Williams won two or more hard-court titles in one season was 2008.