Serena crashes out in French Open epic
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Serena Williams crashed to the worst Grand Slam defeat of her career on Tuesday when she slumped to a dramatic and thrilling 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 French Open loss to France's world 111 Virginie Razzano.
It was the 30-year-old American’s first ever exit at the opening round stage of her 47-event Grand Slam career and her earliest loss at a major since she was knocked out of the Australian Open second round by sister Venus in 1998.
On a night of unbearable tension on Philippe Chatrier Court, Williams saved seven match points in the ninth game of the nerve-jangling decider.
“I’m disappointed, but that’s life, things could be worse,” said Williams, who missed last year’s Roland Garros as she battled life-threatening blood clots in her lungs.
“I’ve been through so much in my life. I’m not sitting here happy. I’ve gotta figure out what I did wrong and not do it again. I fought until the end.” Razzano was overjoyed by her astonishing triumph.
“You (the crowd) gave me your energy. I’m gonna have to rest. Thank you all for your support,” said a breathless Razzano after a three-hour struggle.
“I knew I had it in me and I dug deep inside myself to find it.”
Williams, the 2002 champion, had had the late evening match in her hands when she led by a set and 5/1 in the second set tiebreak as she looked set for a routine win. But Razzano, the darling of the Paris crowd after playing the 2011 French Open just five days after the death of her fiance from a brain tumour, then reeled off the next six points of the breaker to level the tie.
Amidst rising tension and emotion, Williams, a 13-time Grand Slam title winner, appeared to cry as she sat in her courtside chair ahead of the final set.
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