Serena knocked out of French Open by Rybakina as quest for 24th Slam goes on
Last updated on: 06 June,2021 10:44 pm
Serena knocked out of French Open by Rybakina as quest for 24th Slam goes on
PARIS (AFP) - Serena Williams latest quest for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title ended with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat by Kazakh 21st seed Elena Rybakina in the French Open last 16 on Sunday.
The 39-year-old American, still one short of Margaret Court s all-time record of most Grand Slam singles titles, has not gone beyond the fourth round at Roland Garros since losing the 2016 final.
Russian-born Rybakina, 21, extended her best run at a major as she advanced to her first quarter-final, where she will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a spot in the last four.
"I am so happy with my match, it was amazing," said Rybakina, who at 22 is the highest-ranked player left in her half of the draw.
"Of course I was nervous, I was not serving that well in the game before, but I am happy that I managed to control them in the end."
The exit of Williams leaves just two of the women s top 10 seeds in the competition, reigning champion Iga Swiatek and last year s runner-up Sofia Kenin.
It is another missed opportunity for Williams, who despite arriving in Paris with just one win on clay this season, had seen her hopes of a fourth French Open crown boosted by the absence of Simona Halep, and early exits of Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka.