Seven-time Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams’s return to the Championships ended in defeat after she lost a gruelling encounter to French debutant Harmony Tan on Centre Court.
Serena, who was playing her first singles encounter since her first round exit here last year, was beaten in 3 hours and 11 minutes.
World No. 115 Harmony Tan, who was playing her first-ever Wimbledon match, won the tight contest 7-5, 1-6, 7-6.
23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams fought hard, saving a match point in the final set and managed to force a tie-breaker. She was in fact leading 4-0 in the deciding tie-breaker before running out of steam.
Serena, whose heartbreaking retirement in the first round last year was still fresh in the minds of many, will have to wait longer to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 majors. The tennis legend will be hoping for a much better show on home turf in the year-ending US Open.
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