*(Via NY Times) – Serena Williams tumbled out of the Australian Open in the third round on Friday, eliminated by an opponent who had previously been one of her least daunting.
The eighth-seeded Williams, a seven-time Australian Open champion, lost to 27th-seeded Wang Qiang of China, 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5. It was their first meeting since last September in the United States Open quarterfinals, when Williams had routed Wang, 6-1, 6-0, in only 44 minutes, one of the easiest victories of her long career.
Wang, 28, who normally tries to dictate play with her flat, aggressive groundstrokes, did not hit a single winner in that match, seemingly frozen with fear under the floodlights in New York.
In Friday’s rematch, Wang’s readiness to battle was quickly apparent. She hung tough on her serve, saving four break points before breaking the 38-year-old Williams in the ninth game for a 5-4 lead, and then holding serve a game later to claim the opening set. Wang hit 10 winners in the set, and only five unforced errors. Williams hit 13 winners, but 18 unforced errors.
Get the rest of this report on Serena Williams being eliminated at the Australian Open at NY Times.
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