Editorial Staff
The last time Serena Williams left Wimbledon in third round was in 2005. Since then she has always managed to move beyond third round. But in a repeat of 2005, this year she was again forced to leave Wimbledon in the third round. Alize Cornet defeated Serena on Saturday by 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Cornet was the 25th seed and Williams was no. 1. They were locked at 1-1, 40/40 when rain interrupted the game. Once back, Cornet from France couldn’t withstand the assault from the American Serena Williams and the five time champion rolled off the next five games.
But soon Cornet got back her form and fire returns and groundstokes at Williams that she didn’t have an answer to. Serena Williams, a 17 Grand Slam title winner couldn’t employ the power and form that typifies her career. She soon fell behind 5-0, 5-2. And though she was able to get the score to 5-4, the damage has already been done. Taking advantage of her passive and tentative game the confident Cornet served out the final game at love.
During 2012 Williams hit a record 102 aces that enabled her to win the title. But she only managed to fire 3 in this game and committed seven double faults. She could land only 66% of her first serves in the match while winning only 30% of her second serve points.
This was not the first time Williams lost to Cornet in 2014. She was defeated in Dubai Open during the semifinals by Cornet. This year hasn’t been good for Williams; she has gone out of last four out of five majors on round four or less.
