sport news Serena Williams exits Wimbledon in the first round after losing to Harmony Tan trends now
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Serena Williams walked off the Centre Court on Tuesday night, possibly for the last time, after failing to hold back the tide of youth.
The American fought to keep her career at Wimbledon alive, but ultimately could not meet the challenge of a poised and courageous opponent in France’s Harmony Tan, who prevailed 7-5 1-6 7-6 after more than three hours.
A deciding super tiebreak saw her recover from 0-4 down to claim it 10-7, with Williams straining every sinew within her ageing frame.
The tournament’s lowest ranked woman at 1204 – a wildcard in name only with her seven previous singles titles – ultimately lost the struggle to hide the fact that she had not played for a full twelve months.
As with most happenings in her career it was never dull or predictable, a clash of styles lighting up the grand old arena with Williams playing the lead role as she has done so many times before.
It was as if the 23-time Grand Slam champion came to this fight armed with a baseball bat, to her opponent’s stiletto.
Even at 40, the American can summon up ferocious power, and when she launched her fightback the blows were often accompanied by determined yelps and groans to amplify them.
In an era when many of the women’s top ten could walk down Wimbledon High Street without any fear of being recognised, Williams retains a star quality all of her own.
As the world number 113, Parisian Tan could certainly stroll down the Champs Elysees unbothered, but she has a delightful game to watch that harks to another era.
It probably helps that she is coached by the canny Nathalie Tauziat, one of Wimbledon’s less-remembered finalists, from 1998.
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