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Serena Williams stunned by Tan in first-round epic


Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England - June 28, 2022 Serena Williams of the US competes in the first round match against Harmony Tan REUTERS / Matthew Childs of France

Tennis – Wimbledon – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, England – June 28, 2022 Serena Williams of the US competes in the first round match against Harmony Tan REUTERS / Matthew Childs of France

LONDON – Seven-time champion Serena Williams suffered her second straight match in the first round of Wimbledon when she was stunned by French debutant Harmony Tan in a late-night epic at Center Court on Tuesday.

A year after the American retired from an injury that many feared would be her last match at Wimbledon, her return was highly anticipated but the 115th-ranked Tan ripped the script. with a shocking score of 7-5 1-6 7-6 (7) victory.

With the center court closed for the final two sets and close to the 11pm Wimbledon curfew, Tan had a match point robbed when 40-year-old Williams served 5-6 in the match. Set decided by roller coaster.

A weary Williams then appeared close to victory as she led 4-0 in the ‘super tiebreak’.

But Tan, who had never played a major draw at Wimbledon before, let alone face off against one of the game’s greatest players on a sensational grass-court show, wasn’t done.

Sticking to the slice and slow swings left Williams confused throughout a thrilling showdown, she took a 9-7 lead before sealing the victory when Williams hit forehand.

Williams, who hasn’t played a singles match since retiring through injury to Aliaksandra Sasnovich here last year, went through all sorts of emotions in three hours and 11 minutes of drama and thrills to her fans. He also had to go through many hardships.

But in the end, the lack of sharpness of the match proved too much when another quest for a 24th Grand Slam title hit and the question was whether she would ever get another chance. .

Tan, who has only won two major draws at a Grand Slam compared to Williams’ 98 at Wimbledon alone, can hardly believe what she’s done after the biggest win of her modest career. .

“I am very emotional now. Serena is a superstar and when I was little, I watched her a lot on TV,” the 24-year-old told the court. “For my first Wimbledon, it was fantastic. Rub.

“When I saw the draw, I was really scared. Because it’s Serena Williams, she’s a legend. I think if I can win a game or two that’s really good for me. “

‘Better than last year’

While the defeat, ranked by opponents as the worst of her Wimbledon career, was a bitter pill to swallow, Williams said it was easier to accept than last year.

“It was definitely a very long battle and fight and it was definitely better than last year. It was a start,” Williams told reporters. “I think physically, I did pretty well. I think the last few points that I really have to suffer are there. “

When asked if she would return to Wimbledon, Williams was irked.

“That is a question that I cannot answer. I do not know. Who knows? Who knows where I’ll pop up? “

Even though Williams wildcard’s nominal rating is 1,204, on paper the match looks like a false match.

24-year-old Tan has only 9 Tour wins in his career and no wins on grass compared to former world number one Williams’ 832.

But from the start, it’s clear that stats and reputation can be overlooked.

A succession of wild errors on Williams’ racquet gave Tan a 2-0 lead before she found the rhythm to take a 4-2 lead. But Tan, whose delicate game belongs to a bygone era, displayed superb pitch technique and broke Williams’ mighty serve twice in a row on his way to the opener.

Williams broke serve after a suffocating 19-minute match early in the second set that left both players gasping for breath and then saved four break points in the next game before overcoming the rest of the set as Tan faded. bland.

A 3-1 lead as decider Williams appeared to be in control but it was an illusion as Tan hit a stunning backhand to equalize 3-3.

Shouted by the crowd, Williams broke again 4-4 and celebrated as if she had won the title, but once again Tan showed real grit and snapped back with a backhand. other gorgeous.

When Williams saved the match point with a volley to enter the tiebreak, logic suggested that Tan would eventually fold.

But it was Williams who faltered in the face of victory.

RELATED STORY:

Serena Williams says she’s gearing up for a comeback at Wimbledon

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