Serena Williams is eliminated from the Australia Open after losing in the third round against Chinese Qiang Wang. It was a smooth match that was played early on Friday morning, Swedish time, with the score 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5.
The 27th seeded Wang had the chance to serve home the match with the score 5-4 in the second set. But Williams got a break chance - which she took and then won the second set in the tiebreak.
- After the second set, I was a little confused because I lost it, Wang tells the competition's website.
Just four months ago, Wang knocked out Ashleigh Barty in the US Open and in the third set against Williams she proved it was no coincidence. With the numbers 7-5, she decided the match and knocked out the world title after 2 hours and 40 minutes of play.
Won just one game
The last time they both met, in September at the US Open, Wang won only one game. That match ended 6-1, 6-0 and was over after 45 minutes.
- After the last meeting I have trained really hard, both on the ground and outside, says Wang.
Two more favorites
On Friday morning, things went better for two other favorites. Novak Djokovic easily moved on after three straight sets with the numbers 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 against Japan Yoshihito.
The home favorite and world set Ashleigh Barty also moved on from the third round. She was set against 29th seeded Elena Rybakina and won in two straight sets with the numbers 6-3, 6-2.