Who defeated Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon singles final?

Maria Sharapova defeated Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon singles final. Sharapova won 6–1, 6–4 on Centre Court to claim her first Grand Slam singles title.

The result was a major breakthrough for the 17-year-old Russian. Williams was the two-time defending champion and had been attempting to win Wimbledon three years in a row, a feat last achieved by Steffi Graf from 1991 through 1993. Sharapova’s victory also moved her into the WTA top 10 for the first time.

The final is often remembered as one of Wimbledon’s biggest upsets because Williams was a six-time major champion at the time, while Sharapova had never previously reached a Grand Slam final. Sharapova controlled the match with aggressive returning and powerful baseline play, breaking Williams repeatedly.

Sharapova later won four more major singles titles, including the 2006 US Open, the 2008 Australian Open, the 2012 French Open and the 2014 French Open. She also defeated Williams in the 2004 WTA Finals final, although Williams dominated their later rivalry.