Top
Serena Williams Wimbledon 2019
Serena Williams, Tennis News

Serena Williams sent packing by Srebotnik


The seeds keep on falling at the French, and this time its a big one. Fifth seed and former champion Serena Williams was stunned by No.27 seed Katarina Srebotnik in the third round, losing 6-4 6-4.

“She’s been in a funk for a couple of weeks, mother Oracene tried to explain. “She’s been like that since she got here. She wasn’t confident. Her head just wasn’t there and I can’t explain why.”

Despite playing in the best conditions of the week so far, world No.4 Serena Williams looked out of sorts from the offset, handing Srebotnik a break in the opening game. Although she broke back, it didnt get much better for the increasingly unhappy-looking American, as the Slovenian played the percentage game, making only 9 unforced errors in the first set.

Williams dominated in the second but failed to take her chances against the world No.24’s steady game, and no amount of one-legged fist pumping could save the 2002 champ from falling to Srebotnik, who will rank this as possibly the finest result of her career so far.

The result will also put a smile on the face of Ana Ivanovic, who was due to meet Serena in the quarters. The world No.2 navigated her way through a tricky first set against rising star Caroline Wozniacki, before cruising to a 6-4 6-1 victory.


By
0

Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.