Serena Williams lost in the round of 16 of the Cincinnati tournament to Greece’s Maria Sakkari (5-7, 7-6, 6-1) as she led a set to zero and 5-3 in the second handle.
The American Serena Williams (9th world), who led a set to zero and 5-3, suddenly collapsed and was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Cincinnati tournament, relocated to Flushing Meadows, by the Greek Maria Sakkari (5-7, 7-6, 6-1), Monday.
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Tears of spite, of incomprehension too, flowed down Williams’ cheeks as he sat down in his chair as his opponent led 5-0 in the last set. Half an hour earlier, she was only one game away from her first straight-set victory for her fifth resumption game after six months without playing, because of the coronavirus. And her performance so far seemed to be in great progress, the day after her marathon match of 2:48, won in three sets at the expense of Dutch Arantxa Rus.
Instead, she let Sakkari come back to her height, before a decisive game where she came even closer to a success, two points exactly. But the Greek hung on and snatched a third set that heralded the rapid decline of Williams, devastated by her inability to conclude.
The US Open starts in a week
Morale at its lowest, his 38-year-old body, strained by the humid heat and the repeated efforts provided in the space of 24 hours, then made him suffer. The American star has often held his left leg and stretched his back painfully, finding in pride the strength to avoid a humiliating 6-0 by winning a serve game after erasing six match points .
One week before the US Open, where she will aim for a 24th Grand Slam to enter the legend, a lot of work awaits her and a little rest will also be necessary for her to recharge her batteries and leave no room for doubt. For Sakkari, the adventure continues. She will face Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals.
