Muguruza's win reminiscent of a young Serena Williams

— -- PARIS -- A stylish, soaring Spaniard won the championship here at Roland Garros on Saturday, a familiar sight -- except that this was on the women's side.

It was unquestionably one of those defining moments, when the established champion is unceremoniously unseated by a younger, hungrier rival.

Serena Williams, at 34, was already the oldest women's world No. 1 as well as the oldest Grand Slam champion of the Open era. She had won 21 Grand Slam singles titles, but was nursing an adductor injury, which seemed to limit her mobility.

Garbine Muguruza, a 22-year-old born in Venezuela but playing under the Spanish flag, was seeking her first-ever major. She was clearly nervous at the outset of their French Open final, but soon settled into a series of bold strokes and a general air of fearlessness.

On yet another damp, chilly day at Roland Garros, Muguruza raced away with the momentous match, 7-5, 6-4.

"This is a big tournament in Spain," Muguruza told the Philippe Chatrier crowd in Spanish, "and Rafa is our champion."

And now, it's Muguruza.

It was breathtaking to behold, reminiscent of a 17-year-old Williams taking down Martina Hingis for her first Grand Slam singles championship at the 1999 US Open. That was, incredibly, nearly 17 years ago.

Muguruza is the youngest major champion since Victoria Azarenka won the 2012 Australian Open.

Yes, more than a dozen years separate Williams and Muguruza -- an eternity in terms of professional tennis -- and, frankly, they both looked their respective ages. Williams, playing for the fourth consecutive day because of the rain, seemed to be out of sorts, mistiming her shots and struggling with her balance.

Williams is, by consensus, the greatest server in the history of the women's game, but on this day, Muguruza broke that serve an unnerving four times.

"She's definitely hitting hard," Williams said afterward. "It just depends on who I play. She just goes for broke on every shot and it works for her."

And so, Williams' date with tennis destiny will have to wait at least until Wimbledon in a month's time. There she will again attempt to equal Steffi Graf's Open era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles and pull within two of all-time record holder Margaret Court. Here, Williams was attempting to defend her French Open title and win her fourth overall.

It was a rousing match, watched by great champions of the past, from Billie Jean King to Rod Laver and from Gustavo Kuerten to Amelie Mauresmo and Guillermo Vilas.

Muguruza never, ever truly blinked. It was all there to see in the 12th game of the opening set.

Serving for the frame at 6-5, Muguruza fought off two break points with a pair of outsized serves. And then, after Williams saved two set points, Muguruza converted with an astonishing backhand, deep and out of the reach of a stumbling Williams. The taut set ran 56 minutes and, appropriately, Muguruza won 41 points to Williams' 40.

In the second set, Muguruza made a break in the fourth game stand up the rest of the way. And when her unlikely lob dropped inside the line it was over.

Muguruza fell back in the soft, red clay, while Williams, slumping along the baseline, applauded, tapping her hand to her racket. Muguruza beat Williams here in second round two years ago, announcing herself to the tennis world. And now she is a Grand Slam champion.

"I am so excited," Muguruza said. "Against one of the best players, I am so happy. I think Serena is a very powerful player. I just tried to fight as much as I can."

In September, Williams nearly produced an epic single-season Grand Slam before losing to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of the US Open. Muguruza joins Flavia Pennetta (2015 US Open) and Angelique Kerber (2016 Australian Open) as the third consecutive first-time Grand Slam champion on the women's side.

Williams was close to tears in her on-court comments -- her voice cracked speaking French -- as she graciously congratulated Muguruza, thanked her God, her coach and the patrons in the stands.

Williams, it must be noted, has lost in the final of the year's first two Slams.

That feels like an undeniable change in the wind.