With a sad smile and a friendly wave, Serena Williams left Center Court on Tuesday night, possibly for the last time.
If this was the last time we saw her at Wimbledon, then at least she’s gone with the indelible imprint of an excellent match against a straight and youthful opponent.
Harmony Tan, the world number 113 from Paris, said she was scared when she saw her first round draw, but she showed remarkable composure by achieving a 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 victory that might if Williams’ final is going to apply. defeat against SW19.
When she went into a new decisive super-tie-break, she fell 0-4 behind, but recovered to make it 10-7. The American, now in her fifth decade, could not pull her outdated frame across the line by more than three hours on the clock.
The fire was still burning inside – everyone had seen it – but even she could not make up the shortfall for not playing for a year.
Yet, in a sense, Williams still achieved her goal. She wanted to erase the memory that she limped off here in 2021 after six games of her opening game, and she definitely did.
Serena Williams has been denied a fairytale-like Wimbledon return after retiring in the first round
Williams, who made her return to SW19 after a year of absence, was beaten by Harmony Tan.
She was subsequently intransigent about her future when asked, “It’s a question I can not answer,” she replied.
‘I’m just playing for now and see how I feel, take it from there. Who knows where I’m going to pop? There is definitely a lot of motivation to play better and at home (the US Open).
“I did well physically. The last few points I really suffered. If you play week after week, there is a bit more match toughness. ‘
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, was taken to a deciding set and lost on a draw.
Tan’s play is delightful and points to another era, and, always ready, she carved Williams open
Williams was reluctant about the extent of her preparation, but she found early on that she had shot wrong
Maybe she will then choose to spend more time with her child, husband, venture capital business, Oscars ceremonies and plenty of other interests.
Or maybe not, because you doubt if anything will recreate the feverish excitement of games like this that have filled her career.
As with most events in her life, it was never boring or predictable, a clash of styles illuminated the big old arena with Williams playing the lead role as she had done so many times before.
It was as if the 23-time Grand Slam champion armed with a baseball bat came to this fight, following her opponent’s stiletto.
Even at 40, the American can evoke fierce force, and when she launched her fightback effort, the blows were often accompanied by determined screams and groans, which were amplified when the roof was closed after the first set.
However, the legend was able to fight back, and took the match the distance under the lights
Tan suffered a fall during the exciting match, but continued to test Williams’ stamina
In an era when many of the women’s top 10 in Wimbledon High Street could walk without any fear of being recognized, Williams retains a star quality of her own.
So could definitely walk down the Champs Elysees undisturbed, but she has a great game to watch that refers to another era.
That was just enough, when bolted on the remarkable maturity she showed under pressure.
Williams served for the game at 5-4 in the third service – at one point this kind of encounter could have ended in her sleep.
But the errors crept back, and before long she missed a straight volley and faced a match point at 5-6, which she saved with another boom at the net.
With more match practice, she may have finished it off, though her quality of movement has raised doubts about the suggestion that she will be poorly prepared.
After her victory, the unknown player celebrated with her family at Center Court
One experienced coach who witnessed her first practice on the south coast ventured that her ball strike was so clean that she should have been in proper training for some time.
So maybe it was less of a calculated risk – to only play two doubles matches in Sussex before heading to SW19 – than could have been estimated.
After a slow and erratic start, it became clear that Williams’ stamina would be tested. The first set took 64 minutes and the second game of the next took just 20 minutes and 30 points before the American finally clinched it with a seventh breakaway opportunity.
Experience helps when it comes to the transition from daylight to floodlight, and the more bold Williams began to steam through the set.
Tan took a six-minute rest break before the decision, a chance to gather her thoughts and for Williams to lose momentum. When the breathless unraveling came, she showed similar composition.