David Witt: Venus 'didn't really settle down' in the Wimbledon final

Venus Williams never found her top form in the final against Garbine Muguruza at Wimbledon, according to her coach, David Witt.

Both players were tight at the beginning, with 37-year-old Williams playing the final for the first time since 2009 and 23-year-old Muguruza going for her first title at Wimbledon.

"I think they were both a little nervous," he told TENNIS.com. "You expect that, and you expect both to kind of settle down and get relaxed. I thought Venus wasn't relaxed, or kind of didn't really settle down in the match at all, even though it got to 4-4 and she was up 5-4, 40-15 [with two set points]."

Williams had a midcourt forehand on the first set point but hit it awkwardly, he noted.

"Easier said than done. It's not an easy shot. Then the second one was an unbelievable point, 15-20 ball rally," said Witt. "That's when Muguruza just dug in.

"I think the first set was huge for whoever won it. That was pretty much the turning point."

From 4-5 down, Muguruza won nine straight games to clinch the title as Williams' errors mounted. Though Williams had played her best tennis of the event from the fourth round onwards, Witt added, she did not play at that level in the final.

"Obviously she didn't play her best tennis," Witt said. "And every time you come on the court [and] you're not playing your best tennis, you've got to find a way to win. And Garbine did a great job at making [Venus] play. She was getting everything back. She kept getting the ball in play and forcing Venus to press and go for more."

Williams seems likely to now take a break before returning for the big hard-court events.

"I think she needs to take some time off. I'm sure this is going to sting a bit," said Witt. "Obviously it's disappointing for her because she plays to win Slams.

"It's probably best to step away ... and then get hungry again."

Williams also reached the final at the Australian Open.

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