With the Center Court roof closed and Wimbledon curfew time for the final two sets, Tan was stripped of a match point when the 40-year-old Williams worked 5-6 in the rollercoaster deciding set.
With the Center Court roof closed and Wimbledon curfew time for the final two sets, Tan was stripped of a match point when the 40-year-old Williams worked 5-6 in the rollercoaster deciding set.
Seven-time champion Serena Williams injured Second straight Wimbledon first round exit She was stunned by French debutante Harmony Tan at the Center Court epic late on Tuesday.
A year after the American retired, what many feared would be his last Wimbledon match, his return was eagerly awaited, but 115th-ranked Tan won 7-5 1-6 7-6 ( 7) ripped off the script with a nervous-cad. Victory.
With the Center Court roof closed for the final two sets and the Wimbledon curfew drawing to a close, Tan was stripped of a match point when the 40-year-old Williams worked 5-6 in the rollercoaster deciding set.
An exhausted Williams then looked closer to victory as they took a 4–0 lead in a ‘super tiebreak’.
But Tan, who had never played a Wimbledon main draw match before going alone against one of the game’s greats on the fever-pitch showcourt, was not.
Clinging to slices and slow-ball shots that had stunned Williams during an absorbing duel, she worked her way into a 9-7 lead before sealing the win as Williams netted a forehand.
Emotional 3 Hours for Serena
Williams, who hasn’t played a match since retiring hurt against Aleksandra Sasnovich here last year, went through every emotion in the three hours and 11 minutes of play and left her fans stunned.
But in the end, the lack of match sharpness proved to be too much as yet another quest for the 24th Grand Slam title hit the buffers and the question is whether she will ever get another chance.
Tan, who had won only two Grand Slam main draw matches compared to the 98 won by Williams at Wimbledon alone, could hardly believe what he had done after securing the biggest win of his modest career so far.
“I’m very emotional now. Serena is a superstar and when I was little I was watching her on TV several times.” For my first Wimbledon, it’s wow. Just wow
“I was really scared when I saw the draw. Because it’s Serena Williams, she’s a legend. I thought it would be really cool for me if I could win a game or two.”
‘Better than last year’
While the defeat, which according to the opponent’s ranking was 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 fight and fight and it’s definitely better than last year. It’s a start,” Williams told reporters. “I think physically I did pretty well. I think I was really suffering there in the last few points. ,
When asked if she would return to Wimbledon, Williams hesitated. “That’s a question I can’t answer. I don’t know. Who knows? Who knows where I’ll pop up?”
On paper the match looked like a miss-match, despite Wildcard Williams’ imaginary ranking of 1,204.
Tan, 24, had only nine Tour victories in his career and none on grass, compared to 832 for former world number one Williams.
Tan takes advantage of Serena’s mistakes
But it was clear from the start that statistics and reputation can be overlooked.
A succession of wild errors from the Williams racket gave Tan a 2–0 lead before she could find some rhythm to lead 4–2. But Tan, whose meticulous game belongs to a bygone era, showed excellent court craft and broke the mighty Williams’ two consecutive serves on his way to snatch the opener.
Williams broke serve after 19 minutes of play at the start of the second set, with both players gasping, and then saved four break points in the next game and rolled in as a tan for the rest of the set.
A 3–1 lead in the decider seemed to have Williams in control, but it was an illusion as Tan struck a graceful backhand to break the winner back for 3–3.
Roaring from the crowd, Williams broke again at 4-4 and celebrated wildly as if she had won the title, but again Tan showed true patience and broke back with another surprising backhand.
When Williams saved match point with a swing volley to go into the tiebreak, logic suggested that Tan would eventually fold. But it was Williams who stumbled upon victory in sight.