Serena Williams’s return to Wimbledon was long-awaited and, ultimately, short-lived.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by France’s Harmony Tan, 7–5 1–6, 6–7(7), in a match that ran three hours and 10 minutes. Williams had the support of the crowd at Centre Court and won the first four points of the tiebreaker, but was unable to maintain her momentum. Tan will face No. 32 Sara Sorribes Tormo from Spain in round two on Thursday.
The loss leaves the question lingering of whether this was Williams’s final match at Wimbledon, as she’s already been rumored to retire soon.