The Cairns Post

Serena wins just one game in WTA boilover

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

SERENA Williams walked off the court offering waves to a supportive crowd that certainly didn’t expect to see the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s early exit.

In the most lopsided defeat of her career, Williams’ disappoint­ing night ended in less than an hour as she lost her opening match of the WTA’s Silicon Valley Classic on TuesFORMER day night to Johanna Konta 6-1, 6-0. When the 52-minute match ended on Williams’ forehand into the net, she quickly grabbed her gear and headed off the court.

Williams had never won only one game in a match. She held serve to begin proceeding­s before Britain’s Konta reeled off the next 12.

The former world No.1 American won just two games at the 2014 WTA finals in Singapore, falling 6-0, 6-2 to Simona Halep.

“I know I can play a zillion times better so that kind of helps out, too,” Williams said. “I have so many things on my mind I don’t have time to be shocked about a loss that clearly wasn’t at my best right now.

“When I was out there, I was fighting. That’s the only thing I can say, I wasn’t just like giving it away and I was moving a lot better. So I’m just trying to take the positives out of it.”

While sixth-seeded Williams was encouraged by her court coverage, she hardly looked like herself. She double-faulted seven times and landed drop shots in the net.

She sprayed her ground strokes long and wide.

Konta got on a roll with a quick first set and didn’t take a chance in letting Williams get back in it.

 ?? Picture: AP ?? SHOCK LOSS: Serena Williams bombs out.
Picture: AP SHOCK LOSS: Serena Williams bombs out.

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