Garbine Muguruza

Garbine Muguruza into Dubai Championships semi-finals with Caroline Garcia victory

The two-time Grand Slam champion secured her second victory over the French No 1 in back-to-back tournaments with a 7-5 6-2 success after Muguruza secured a comeback win over Garcia on the way to reaching the final in Doha last week.

Muguruza, who defeated American CiCi Bellis in a match which finished in the early hours of Thursday morning, returned to action later that day against the world No 7 and will meet Daria Kasatkina, who beat Elina Vesnina, in the last four.

Venus into WTA Finals last four

The American world No 5 advanced to her fifth semi-final at the season finale after a determined 7-5 6-4 victory in one hour and 41 minutes.

Wiliams' win, which acts as some form of revenge for her Wimbledon final defeat to Muguruza, sees her finish second in the White Group behind Karolina Pliskova and the seven-time Grand Slam champion will next meet either Caroline Wozniacki or Caroline Garcia.

Muguruza named WTA Player of Year

Muguruza becomes only the second Spanish woman after Arantxa Sanchez Vicario to become the top-ranked player in the world.

The 24-year-old became the first player to beat both Serena and Venus Williams in major finals, having beaten Serena to claim the 2016 French Open.

"Becoming the WTA number one in the world is a dream come true," Muguruza told the WTA's website.

"Every birthday wish was always the same as I blew out the candles - to become the best.

Muguruza retires ill in China

Spain's Muguruza suggested in the build-up that she was not fully fit and lost the first set 6-1 to unseeded Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic.

Muguruza, the reigning Wimbledon champion, called a medical timeout at 2-0 down in the second set and then called it quits after having her pulse taken on the side of the court.

The 23-year-old said afterwards she had been too unwell even to practice for her opener but had been determined to play, having lost in the quarter-finals last week in Wuhan, where she struggled with a leg injury.

Muguruza stuns Williams to claim Wimbledon crown

After some tense early exchanges, the Spaniard cut loose, winning nine straight games to claim a second grand slam title to add to last year's French Open.

The 23-year-old fell to the floor in celebration after clinching victory in an hour and 17 minutes. It was her second Wimbledon final, having lost to Venus' sister Serena on the same stage in 2015.

"Two years ago I lost in the final to Serena and she told me one day I was going to maybe win and hey, two years after here I am," she said in a courtside interview.

Muguruza wins Wimbledon title

Muguruza beat the in-form Williams in their first meeting on grass 7-5 6-0 as the Spanish 14th seed emulated her coach Conchita Martinez's memorable triumph in 1994 and made up for her own pain of losing to Serena Williams two years ago to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.

Back in the All England Club final after an eight-year absence, Williams, 37, was hoping to become both the oldest Wimbledon and major winner since the Open era began in 1968, but was unable to claim a sixth Wimbledon title as Muguruza's power proved too hot to handle.