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PARIS, FRANCE September 28. Serena Williams of the United States reacts during her match against Kristie Ahn of the United States in the first round of the Women’s Singles competition on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on September 28th 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
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PARIS, FRANCE September 28. Serena Williams of the United States reacts during her match against Kristie Ahn of the United States in the first round of the Women’s Singles competition on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on September 28th 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Twenty-three time grand slam champion Serena Williams, who has been planning to stage a solid comeback on the WTA tour, has been at the receiving end of back-t0-back upsets against younger players like Nadia Podoroska(Italian Open), Katerina Siniakova(Emilia-Romagna Open).
Qualifier Siniakova, who has largely played in the qualifiers of several tournaments this year, had made the main draw at the Istanbul Open earlier this year and lost in the quarter-finals to Elise Mertens.
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AUGUST 14: Serena Williams serves during her match against Shelby Rogers during Top Seed Open – Day 5 at the Top Seed Tennis Club on August 14, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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Serena Williams lost to the young Katerina Siniakova at WTA Parma Open 2021
On Tuesday, the Czech player registered the biggest win of her career as she defeated the legendary Serena Williams in the round of 16 at WTA Parma Open. The American was clearly the favorite entering into the match. But, Siniakova gave a tough fight to Serena as the set went to a tie-breaker.
One of the disadvantages of playing initial rounds for top players who are out of form is that they had to face several youngsters. It’s natural for any player to get used to their opponent’s style of play before dominating the match.
Way to save set point, @K_Siniakova! 💪#EmiliaRomagnaOpen pic.twitter.com/umR80lbfkP
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2021
Even in her opening round match yesterday, Serena had a tough opponent in Lisa Pigato. The young Italian broke the American‘s first service game with back-to-back backhand winners. However, Serena was quick to bounce back as she found the range and dominated with heavy, baseline winners.
Coming to the match against Siniakova today, the American tried hard in the first set to get an early break but to no avail. The young Czech player remained resilient and won the tie-breaker. Once the second set started, Siniakova was all over the American and earner her first big victory on the WTA tour.
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After she defeated the American, Katerina Siniakova broke into tears as she was overwhelmed by the occasion. It was indeed a special moment for the young Czech player to register a victory by defeating the mighty Serena Williams.
Siniakova in tears as she defeats Serena 7-6 6-2 in Parma
She won 16 of the last 18 points of the match pic.twitter.com/JA4pROqaKI
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) May 18, 2021
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In other matches at the Emilia-Romagna Open, American youngster Coco Gauff defeated Kaia Kanepi in two tough tie-breakers to reach the pre-quarters. Gauff will face Camila Giorgi for a place in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
