Serena Williams’ much-awaited return to the WTA Tour after a year-long absence was cut short as she fell in the first round at Wimbledon.
Meanwhile, reigning US Open and British No 1 Emma Raducanu also made an early exit as she lost in the second round.
However, World No 1 Iga Swiatek had a hassle-free first round as she won in straight sets to extend her amazing winning streak to 36 games.
Read on below as SBOTOP delivers the Wimbledon 2022 news from the women’s singles tournament.
Serena Williams falls short in Wimbledon return
Serena Williams made headlines when she announced she would be playing at Wimbledon, marking her return to action after being sidelined since last year’s tournament.
However, the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s comeback was cut short as she suffered a shock three-set defeat to Frenchwoman Harmony Tan.
The 24-year-old Tan outlasted the 40-year-old Williams in an epic 3-hour 11-minute battle to claim the famous victory, 7-5, 1-6, 7-6(7).
Tan was understandably thrilled to defeat the legendary Williams, whom she looked up to growing up.
“I feel really tired now, but really happy,” Tan said post-match. “I play every ball like just, put some slice, some change, some variety on the game, and it works today.
“It’s a dream because, you know, I saw Serena on the TV when I was young. My coach, [1998 Wimbledon runner-up] Nathalie Tauziat, played her 20 years ago. So, yeah, it’s a big generation. She’s a legend.”
Williams, who was returning to the court for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury in Wimbledon last year, looked rusty in the first set as she fell into an early 0-2 hole. But while she fought her way back, Tan still took the first set 7-5.
Williams answered back with a dominant second set to line up a decisive third set, which went to a tiebreak. Serena built up a commanding 4-0 lead in the tiebreak, but Tan roared back to take the set and the match.
Serena was pleased with her performance physically and gave everything she had on the court, but she just fell short.
“Today I gave all I could do, you know, today. Maybe tomorrow I could have gave more. Maybe a week ago I could have gave more. But today was what I could do. At some point you have to be able to be okay with that. And that’s all I can do.”
Emma Raducanu crashes out in Round 2
Emma Raducanu was one of the biggest stories of Wimbledon last year as she reached the fourth round of the tournament and unfortunately had to retire due to breathing problems. The British teen’s breakout performance at the All England Club presaged her remarkable run to the US Open title later that year.
However, Raducanu’s time in her home Grand Slam has been cut short this year as she crashed out in the second round to Caroline Garcia, who claimed an impressive 6-3 6-3 victory.
“I'”I’m definitely very happy with my performance today,” Garcia told reporters after the match. “I knew it was going to be a tough match, and to play on Centre Court is never easy for the first time. I’m really pleased with the way I played my match and I went for it.”
Garcia, a former top-five player on the WTA Tour rankings, will move on to face Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai in the third round.
Swiatek winning streak up to 36
World No 1 Iga Swiatek made short work of her first-round opponent, Croatian qualifier Jana Fett, as she won 6-0 6-3 to reach the second round of Wimbledon.
With the win, the 21-year-old Swiatek has now extended her remarkable winning streak to 36 matches in a row. It is the longest win streak in the 21st century, breaking the record of 35 straight held by Venus Williams.
“It’s my first match on grass this season, so I knew it’s going to be tricky,” Swiatek said. “I’m just figuring out how to play here and trying to implement all the stuff that we were practicing on.”
Swiatek, who claimed her second French Open title during her fantastic win streak, is the big favourite to win this tournament according to the Wimbledon 2022 betting odds.
Swiatek will move on to face 30-year-old Dutchwoman Lesley Kerkhove in the second round. It will be the first competitive meeting between the two women in the WTA Tour.
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