The tennis world was shocked when Serena Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon winner, fell in the opening round to Harmony Tan of France. Even though the result didn't go her way during this 2022 comeback attempt, Williams exited the court in good spirits. The match was a true test of endurance, spanning over three hours, but the lower-ranked Tan managed to edge out the icon who fought valiantly until the very end.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams suffered a shock first-round defeat at the hands of Frenchwoman Harmony Tan. Serena Williams made her way out of the center court with a smile on her face despite losing her comeback match at Wimbledon 2022. Williams was unable to screw up her old magic and went down to the little-known world no.115 Tan. Serena Williams gave her best and showcased all her skills in a valiant battle that lasted for a staggering 3 hours and 10 minutes.
This wasn't the dream return the 23-time Grand Slam winner had hoped for. This match marked her first singles appearance since a disappointing injury forced her to retire during her first-round match at the previous Wimbledon. Serena didn't go down without a fight, pushing Tan through a rollercoaster of sets, ending in a 5-7, 6-1, 6-7 (7) defeat. Regardless of the score, seeing her back in the iconic white attire brought immense happiness to millions of supporters worldwide.
With the crowd rallying behind her, it seemed for a moment that Williams might pull off a miracle. After recovering from a set down and narrowly escaping a match point in the twelfth game of the final set, victory felt within reach. However, the momentum shifted, and Williams suffered her third career first-round exit at a major tournament after losing her composure during the final tie-breaker.
The 40-year-old American managed to shake off a rocky start and surged to a 4-2 lead in the first set, but 21 unforced errors eventually cost her the opening frame. She showed her championship grit in the second set, completely dominating Tan to level the match. The tension peaked in the decider when she saved a match point to force a tie-breaker. Although she jumped to a commanding 4-0 lead in that final stretch, she couldn't maintain the pace and ultimately slipped away.
Conversely, the match was a career-defining milestone for Harmony Tan. Making her Wimbledon debut, the 24-year-old French player had very little experience on grass, having played only three such tournaments before. Despite the odds and facing a veteran in her 21st Wimbledon appearance, Tan remained steadfast and secured one of the biggest wins of her professional life.
Elsewhere on the courts, Iga Swiatek continued her historic run. The world number one dismantled Jana Fett with a clinical 6-0, 6-3 victory, marking her 36th consecutive win. This achievement places the two-time French Open champion at the top of the 21st century's winning streaks, officially surpassing the record set by Venus Williams back in 2000.