Serena ousted in straight sets

Serena Williams lost her first match since telling the world she is ready to leave professional tennis.

No one knows exactly how many more matches Williams will play before walking away, and the 23-time Grand Slam champion exited the National Bank Open in Toronto on Wednesday night with a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Belinda Bencic.

“A lot of emotions, obviously,” Williams said, her voice shaking during an on-court interview. “I wish I could have played better. Belinda played so well today.”

The second-round match at the hard-court tuneup for the U.S. Open came a day after the 40-year-old Williams announced “the countdown has begun” on her playing career, saying she wants to have another child and pursue business interests.

She did not state precisely what her last event will be, but did make it sound as if her final farewell could come at the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 29 in New York.

Bencic will face two-time major champ Garbiñe Muguruza, who beat Kaia Kanepi 6-4, 6-4.

Seeded players who left the draw included No. 2 Anett Kontaveit, No. 4 Paula Badosa, No. 5 Ons Jabeur, No. 13 Leylah Fernandez and No. 16 Jelena Ostapenko.

• Nick Kyrgios beat top-ranked defending champion Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-2 in the National Bank Open.

Tommy Paul beat secondseeded Carlos Alcaraz 6-7 (4), 7-6 (7), 6-3, and other winners included No. 4 Casper Ruud, No. 7 Jannik Sinner, No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz, No. 9 Cameron Norrie and No. 10 Taylor Fritz

• Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw from her opening match of the Canadian Open due to a back injury, hampering her preparations for the U.S. Open.