Serena Williams Is Edged Out In Centre Court Thriller
Wimbledon
June 29, 2022
Serena Williams thrilled Centre Court and came agonisingly close to victory in a spectacular evening match that lasted more than three hours.
The American was 4-0 up in the deciding tie-break and must have thought she was almost home and dry.
But the determined French newcomer Harmony Tan refused to give up and eventually shocked the superstar 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (10-7).
Serena Williams at least left Wimbledon 2022 with a wonderfully dramatic memory.
It was a very different kind of heartbreak to last year, when she cried out in pain after sustainign an injury and had to cut short her match on the same hallowed grass.
This was Serena the warrior and she saved a match point to remind us all of her fighting spirit.
Perhaps it was simply a lack of matches and therefore mental and physical sharpness that denied her in the end.
But she refused to say whether this would be her last time in the grand old arena.
The 40-year-old explained: ‘That’s a question I can’t answer. Who knows? Who knows where I’ll pop up?’
If this is to be her final year, she would dearly love to have given Wimbledon 2022 at least one more victory.
Yet she has achieved so many in her long career and that is why she is the Queen of Tennis with an incredible 23 Grand Slam titles.
Tan faced that fearsome reputation as well as a seasoned player with all the Centre Court experience.
Still she came through and then charmed her late-night audience with such humility.
The world number 115 said: ‘For my first Wimbledon it’s wow – just wow! It’s a dream come true because I saw Serena on TV when I was young.
‘She’s a legend. When you play her, I was scared. I was scared when I was on the court, but really happy to be there.’
The underdog used that adrenalin to her advantage in the end to come storming back in the unforgettable breaker.
Serena Williams was gracious in defeat and knew how much she had entertained Wimbledon 2022.
It may only have been one match. But what a superb contest that was!
The US star will always be a champion in the eyes of the Wimbledon spectators.
And we will hope to see her one more time at the home of tennis next year.