Australian Open: Serena Williams crashes out in third round in a 'shocker'
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World No 8 was off to a bad start handing the first set to Wang Qiang, she fought hard in the second set and managed to secure a set win by edging past Wang Qiang.
Serena Williams' dream for a record equalling 24th Grand Slam was shattered after a stunning defeat by China's Wang Qiang.
World No 27 beat seven-times Australian Open champion 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5 in the third round of the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.
The moment of a LIFETIME!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020
Qiang Wang puts on an absolute masterclass in the match of the tournament to shock Serena Williams 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 and advance to a first career #AusOpen round of 16.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/gnGkAMaU8X
Williams and Wang Qiang have just met once before in the US Open 2019 quarter-finals where Serena handed a crushing defeat to Wang by beating her 6-1, 6-0.
C-O-M-P-O-S-U-R-E
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020
Wang erases a break point and makes magic!#AO2020 | #AusOpen | 🎥: @espn | @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/zHrYY17L3I
Last time Williams won any Grand Slam was the Australian Open in 2017, she was a favourite contender for the cup this year too.
Let's take look at the chronological events in Williams Grand Slam campaigns post 2017 win:
She entered the French Open in the year 2018, after giving birth to her baby. She was forced to pull out of fourth-round encounter against Maria Sharapova, following a pectoral injury.
In Wimbledon 2018, Williams was beaten by Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-3 in the women's singles finals.
In US Open 2018 she was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Japan's Naomi Osaka in the finals.
Australian Open 2019, she lost to Karolina Pliskova to crash out in the quarter-finals 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
French Open 2019 similar upset in the third round 6-2, 7-5 by American Sofia Kenin,
Wimbledon 2019 she was thrashed 6-2, 6-2 in just 56 minutes in the final by Simona Halep.
In the US Open 2019, Serena was beaten by World No 15 Bianca Andreescu 6-3, 7-5 in the finals.
World No 8 was off to a bad start handing the first set to Wang Qiang, she fought hard in the second set and managed to secure a set win by edging past Wang Qiang.
Serena also won a 24-shot rally, after which she raised her arms in victory.
Never count out SERENA!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020
In a 24-shot rally, Williams rips a cross-court forehand winner to break Wang and keep her tournament hopes alive.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MRAyMXMquA
The final set was pretty tense because both players held their places, but Wang managed to convert the match point in her favour during the American's service.