Emotional Muguruza given standing ovation at Wimbledon

Garbine Muguruza of Spain holds the runners up trophy after Serena Williams of the United States won the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Sean Dempsey/Pool Photo via AP) Garbine Muguruza of Spain holds the runners up trophy after Serena Williams of the United States won the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Sean Dempsey/Pool Photo via AP)

By Associated Press July 11, 2015 3 min read

LONDON (AP) – When it was over, when she was assured of being this year’s Wimbledon runner-up and not this year’s Wimbledon champion, Garbine Muguruza shed some tears.

It wasn’t just because she lost to Serena Williams, though. It was because the crowd at Centre Court absolutely loved her.

“I couldn’t stop crying,” said Muguruza, who even got Williams to get out of her chair and join in the rousing ovation. “So many people are clapping. … I make all these people feel this in a tennis court?

“I felt special.”

Muguruza was playing in her first Grand Slam final on Saturday, but she was up against one of the greatest players of all time. And although the stage was about as big as it gets in the tennis world, the 21-year-old Spaniard came out strong, breaking Williams in the opening game of the match.