San Jose (California): In the most lopsided defeat of her career, Serena Williams’ disappointing night in the Bay Area here Tuesday ended in less than an hour as she lost her opening match of the Silicon Valley Classic tennis tournament to Johanna Konta, 1-6, 0-6.
When the 52-minute match ended on Serena’s forehand into the net the 23-time Grand Slam champion walked off the court waving to the crowd. Serena’s worst defeat prior to this had been in the summit clash of the 2014 WTA finals when she had lost 0-6, 2-6 to Simona Halep.
The sixth-seeded Serena is a three-time champion in the Bay Area. This marked the fifth tournament for the 36-year-old Williams since giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, last September. It’s her first tournament since her straight-set Wimbledon loss to Angelique Kerber.
Meanwhile reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens began the summer hard court campaign ahead of defending her Flushing Meadows crown by beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-5, 6-4 Tuesday at the WTA and ATP Washington Open at Washington.
“I’m super excited about the hard court season again,” 25-year-old Stephens said after the match. “I’m still young and still have so much ore to go and look forward to.”
Stephens, who won her first WTA title at Washington in 2015, fired her sixth ace on her first match point chance to advance after 113 minutes. She has got top billing in the tournament after World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki withdrew due to a right leg injury.
In the men’s segment poor form continued to plague three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. He lost 4-6, 7-6(7-5), 6-7(3-7) to American Donald Young. Wawrinka committed 52 unforced errors during the match and his frustration was evident when he smashed his racquet during the changeovers.
