Wimbledon: Serena Williams knocked out by Harmony Tan in first-round classic

There were some who wondered whether we would ever see Williams again when she slipped on this very court and retired with a torn hamstring only seven games into her first-round match last year. Even as recently as three weeks ago, when the initial championships entry list was released without her name, it seemed as if the end was nigh.

To see her in action again here through a late wildcard was a joy in itself. But a win proved just a fraction of a step too far as Harmony Tan, the world No 115 from France, outfoxed and outlasted her more illustrious opponent for a 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7) triumph after more than three hours.

Tan could barely believe what she had achieved. “I’m so emotional now,” she said. “Serena is a superstar and when I was young I was watching her so many times on the TV. For my first Wimbledon, it’s wow.”

Williams’ level in the first couple of games was what you would expect from a player who had not contested a singles match in 12 months. The rust was evident as she hit two backhand errors and a wayward forehand drive volley in the opening three points. There was a round of generous applause when she won her first point at 0-40 before another mistake on the volley conceded the break.

Tan’s game plan was clear. Using her deft touch, she mixed up the pace, depth and angles to move her opponent around the court. Williams appeared slow both in her footwork and reactions and Tan quickly moved 2-0 up. The sympathetic crowd gave Williams a collective cheer when she finally got on the board with a service hold in the third game. This helped to settle the nerves and she loudly screamed “come on” after a forehand cross-court return winner helped her break back for 2-2.

Suddenly Williams was in the ascendancy as her power, rhythm and timing gradually returned. She held to love for 3-2 and then broke the Tan serve for 4-2. In times gone by, Williams would have pressed home her advantage, but a spell of erratic play allowed Tan to get back on level terms at 4-4.

Tan stuck to her guns and continued to vary her shots. She claimed a pivotal break for 6-5 by working Williams from side to side before placing the forehand winner into the open court. A delightful cross-court forehand pass then sealed the set in 64 minutes.

It was at this point, shortly before 8:30pm, that the roof closed because of bad light. The theory was that the still conditions with no breeze indoors would help Williams gain better control of the ball and she made an encouraging start to the second set with three forehand volley winners to hold for 1-0.

A tense 19-minute game followed. Williams brought up seven break points and finally converted when Tan shanked a forehand into the umpire’s chair. It felt like a key turning point.

Williams’ serve was in full flow and she reeled off four of the next five games to level the match at one set all. The odds would normally be heavily in her favour at this point but there was still some uncertainty over her fitness.

Tan left the court for a six-minute bathroom break before the start of the deciding set, leaving Williams waiting in her courtside chair. Any fears from Williams’ many supporters that this might disrupt her momentum were allayed when she claimed a break for 2-1.

Williams seemed on course for victory when she consolidated the break for 3-1 but Tan dug in, hitting another stunning cross-court pass to draw level for 3-3. Suddenly, looks of concern could be seen on the faces of Williams’ sister Venus and mother Oracene in the players’ box.

Tan prevailed in an enthralling rally to move 4-3 ahead, before Williams kept her composure to hold for 4-4. With the crowd behind her, Williams raised her level, playing an angled drop shot to bring up two break points and she converted the second for a 5-4 lead when Tan dumped a volley into the net.

Williams was clearly tight with the finish line within touching distance and failed to serve out the match from 30-30. Serving to stay in it at 5-6, she saved a match point with a high forehand volley before forcing a deciding tie-break to ten points. From 4-0 up, Williams found herself 9-7 down and lost with a forehand into the net. It was a cruel end to a captivating night.

-The Times

Originally published as Wimbledon: Serena Williams knocked out by Harmony Tan in first-round classic