LONDON (AP) – Shortly after beating Venus Williams in the Wimbledon final, Garbine Muguruza was given a purple-and-gold circular badge signifying that she is a member of the All England Club, an honorary status accorded to tournament champions.
“I’m like, ‘I’m going to wear it right now,'” Muguruza said.
So she attached that hard-to-earn pin to her white zippered jacket, just over her heart, and fiddled with the thing while speaking to a small group of reporters Saturday evening.
Muguruza noted that after losing in the 2015 Wimbledon final to Williams’ sister, Serena, she didn’t get the same treatment, of course: Runners-up don’t get the membership or its privileges.
“It’s all or nothing,” Muguruza said. “So I’m like, ‘Whew, this year, I finally did it.'”