Greek Maria Sakkari won the three-seater 5–7, 7–6 (7–5), 6–1 after 2.17 hours and will face Johanna Konta, Great Britain, in the quarter finals.

The 38-year-old American, third-seeded in the tournament, did not have enough strength to beat the 13-seeded Greek. Not after playing for almost three hours (2.48) two days earlier, against qualifier Arantxa Rus. It was Williams' longest match in eight years.

- It's hard to be positive when I play like this. Playing nine hours in a week is too much, I don't usually play that long. That's new to me, Williams said after the game against Rus.

In the match against Sakkari, Williams made seven double errors and won only 66 percent of his first serve. After losing the second set, she threw her racket over her shoulder onto the empty stand behind her.

She also lost her temper when the referee gave her a time penalty for slow play.

- I would just go and get my towel. It's not fair. You gave me no warning. And I'm actually a really fast player. Next time, you have to warn me first. I'm tired of this, Williams said frustrated.

Normally, the ball callers serve the players with towels, but during the corona pandemic, the players are responsible for their own towels.

In 1.5 weeks, the US Open will start. Then the 23-time grand slam winner Williams aims for a new title, she won most recently in 2015 and then became the tournament's oldest winner.

CLIP: Serena Williams wins against sister Venus (13/8)

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