Serena Williams Knocked Out of French Open, Loses 3rd Round Match

Serena Williams has been handed her earliest loss at a major in five years.

Serena Williams was beaten 6-2, 7-5 in the third round at Roland Garros by 20-year-old American Sofia Kenin.

(Photo: AP)

Serena Williams' quest for a 24th Grand Slam title ended with her earliest loss at a major tournament in five years.

Williams was outplayed in the third round of the French Open by 20-year-old American Sofia Kenin, who used clean, deep groundstrokes to put together the 6-2, 7-5 upset Saturday.

“In that first set, in particular, she hit pretty much inches from the line, and I haven’t played anyone like that in a long time. I just saw a player that was playing unbelievable.”

Serena Williams

Serena committed 34 unforced errors which were twice as many as Kenin’s total.(Photo: AP)

Williams had said she considered not entering the French Open at all.

“I’m glad I came, at the end of the day, but it’s been a really grueling season for me.”

Serena Williams

She struggled through her opening match at the French Open, which she has won three times, and again against the 35th-ranked Kenin, who never before had made it to the round of 16 at a major.

But Kenin played quite well, never showing a trace of nerves. It was Williams whose strokes were off target: Her 34 unforced errors were twice as many as Kenin's total.

Remarkably, Kenin broke Williams four times, while only ceding one of her own service games.

At 5-all in the second set, though, Kenin got the last break she’d need with a forehand return winner off a 102 mph (164 kph) serve.(Photo: AP)

“Just playing against Serena, you’ve really got to fight for every point. She’s such a tough player. I’m just so happy with this win.”

Sofia Kenin

And then, her voice choking on her words, Kenin added: "Obviously, you can tell, with my emotions."

After trailing 3-1 in the second set, Williams appeared to be getting back into the match, breaking back and then holding for a 4-3 lead with the help of three aces. After two of them, Williams stared down Kenin, who had questioned a call earlier in that game.

At 5-all, though, Kenin got the last break she'd need with a forehand return winner off a 102 mph (164 kph) serve. She ran to her sideline seat and pressed a towel against her face.

There was one last key moment: While serving for the victory, Kenin faced a break point, but Williams' miscue let it go by. One last error by Williams — a backhand that sailed long — ended things.

With 23, Williams stands one win away from Margaret Court’s mark for the most Grand Slam singles championships in tennis history(Photo: AP)

Since those early-for-her defeats, Williams had won six of the 14 majors she entered to surpass Steffi Graf's professional-era record of 22 Grand Slam singles championships. With 23, Williams stands one win away from Margaret Court's mark for the most in tennis history; Court played in both the professional and amateur eras.

Williams, who is 37, sat out four Slams in 2017-18 while she was off the tour to have a baby. Her first major tournament back was last year's French Open, where she withdrew before a fourth-round match because of a chest muscle injury. She went on to reach the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, before wasting match points during a quarter-final loss at the Australian Open.

Williams came to Paris having played only four matches since then; she withdrew from two tournaments because of an injured left knee and another because of illness.