Elina Svitolina defeated Williams, 6-4, 6-3, in the third round of the 2016 Games.
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Alize Cornet, a fiery character is now ranked at number 49 in the world, but she has one title under her belt winning the title in Hobart at the start of the year and she was victorious over Eugenie Bouchard in the final.
She also hit 37 unforced errors.
“The first set, especially, was extremely tricky”, Williams said, referring to the wind, “but I’m glad it kind of slowed down in the second a little bit, so I was able to produce better tennis”. “That was one of my goals”, added Williams. The top seed fought her way back into contention by levelling the scores at 3-3.
The Rio Games – and possibly her Olympic career – are now over for Serena after she and sister Venus were deposed as doubles champions in the first round.
But on the men’s side the last two gold medalists, Andy Murray (2012) and Rafael Nadal (2008) advanced.
Next up for the 21-year-old Petra Kvitova.
But right from the opening game, it was apparent Williams was struggling as she started out sluggish and lacking emotion. And then one of the greatest fighters in her – or any other – sport simply faded down the stretch.
Double faults continued to haunt her in the next game as she served five of them to gift Svitolina a 4-3 lead. “Every time I play her, I’m not in my best shape”.
“It’s an unreal feeling for me”.
Men’s world no. 1 Novak Djokovic was eliminated by 2009 US Open victor Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina’s on 7 August.
Time after time it happened: Her tosses wobbled in the air, and when her racket arm clunked into position it looked like her Wilson racket carried 20 pounds of extra weight.
Her results since the French Open in June tell a different story.
Trailing 0-40 at 3-5, Williams saved the first two match points as the pressure began to build.
“I also thought she may be injured but I tried not to think about it too much”. “Just play the ball”, Svitolina said.
Puig has had a breakout season, starting the year at 92 and now standing on the cusp of the top 30.
Juan Monaco, meanwhile, was unable to duplicate the feat of countryman Del Potro in his game against Murray as the Wimbledon champion coasted to a 6-3, 6-1 win and maintained his superb run of recent form. Later in the third game, Svitolina with a fast forehand return victor broke Williams to take a 2-1 lead. Minutes later, French team officials said that Paire was being expelled from the Games for “flouting rules”.
The 34-year-old Williams, who is not entered in the mixed doubles, cut short her media commitments after the loss, speaking only to the official broadcasters before she returned to the changing rooms.
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German second seed and Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber recovered from a 4-1 first set deficit to defeat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, 6-4, 6-2.
