American tennis legend Serena Williams, 40, was eliminated on Tuesday in her return to Wimbledon after a year without playing a singles tournament, losing in the first round against France’s Harmony Tan 7-5, 1-6 and 7-6 (10/7).
The seven-time grass-court Grand Slam champion and former world number 1 dropped to number 1,204 after a year without playing and had been invited by the organizers to participate in Wimbledon.
Tan, the 115th player in the world to emerge from qualifying, beat Williams in an insane matchup that lasted three hours and 11 minutes on the grass of Center Court at the All England Club in London.
The 24-year-old Frenchwoman acknowledged after the game that she had been impressed when the draw forced her to play against a legend she had admired since she was a child and to be the first “surprised” by her victory.
In July 2021, Williams was forced to withdraw in the first round at Wimbledon with a thigh injury. She was then eighth in the world racket.
He has in his possession 23 Grand Slam titles, more than any man on the circuit and one less than the historical record of the Australian Margaret Court whom he has spent years trying to emulate without success.
