Tennis superstar Serena Williams has suffered a dramatic defeat on the much-anticipated return from a year-long hiatus.
The 23-time Grand Slam tournament winner lost on Tuesday evening in 3:10 hours 5: 7, 6: 1, 6: 7 (7:10) against French Harmony Tan.
The 40-year-old was far from her former form in the first individual after her serious thigh injury in the same place a year ago.
So Williams has to wait for the longed-for 24th success in a Grand Slam tournament, with which she would set the record of Australian Margaret Court.
Despite all the routine, the American couldn't prevent her third defeat in a Grand Slam opening game on Center Court.
Cheered on by her sister Venus and her mother, the American lacked match practice and liveliness at the beginning.
Williams had only played competitive games in doubles.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion wanted to keep the rallies short and celebrated point wins with loud screams.
The world number 115.
Tan used stops to let Williams run.
Tan won the first set with a passing ball, Williams looked helpless after 64 minutes.
Williams used the time when the folding roof was closed over the largest Wimbledon arena to go into the catacombs.
When she returned, she received encouraging applause.
The error rate fell, the precision increased.
The second set was closer than the 6-1 score.
In the decisive round, Williams fended off a match point at 5: 6 and his own serve.
In the tie break she was already 4:0 ahead and lost.