Serena Williams Upset by Elena Rybakina in 2 Sets at 2021 French Open
ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images
Serena Williams was knocked out of 2021 French Open after Elena Rybakina earned a 6-3, 7-5 upset in the fourth round Sunday.
Rybakina needed just one hour and 17 minutes to secure the win, which featured five breaks over the two sets and 49 percent of return points won.
Williams has not reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros since ending as the runner-up in 2016 and she has been stuck on 23 career Grand Slam titles since her 2017 Australian Open title.
This was already Rybakina’s deepest run at a Grand Slam and the 21-year-old will now make her first quarterfinal appearance against No. 31 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who upset Victoria Azarenka earlier in the day.
Williams entered the match as the much bigger name with a more impressive resume, but it was Rybakina who won her first three matches of this event in straight sets. The No. 21 seed kept the momentum going against the seventh-seeded Williams.
Rybakina won two breaks in the first set on the way to a 6-3 win to put the American in trouble:
Christopher Clarey @christophclarey
First set Rybakina over Serena 6-3<br><br>Rybakina 2 for 2 on break points. Her big serve and flat baseline power giving her the early edge#getty pic.twitter.com/FV93Coe1hv
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg
Elena Rybakina was such a revelation at the start of the 2020 season, and her clean, easy hitting is working well against Serena early so far.<br><br>#21 Rybakina takes the first set 6-3 over #7 Serena.#RG21
The Tennis Podcast @TennisPodcast
Elena Rybakina takes the opening set 6-3 over Serena Williams.<br><br>Rybakina moving the ball around beautifully & attacking with energy due the moment. <br><br>Serena’s shots landing attackably short or flying long.
The Kazakhstan native gained even more control with an early break in the second set and more quality winners.
Roland-Garros @rolandgarros
Rybakina on the move 👀#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Fz9YZBCaM7
Roland-Garros @rolandgarros
Rybakina right on 🎯#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/1VUcw5soFv
Williams fought back and eventually led 3-2 and 5-4 after breaks, looking like she would even up the match with a second-set victory.
Roland-Garros @rolandgarros
Pure power ⚡️#RolandGarros | @serenawilliams pic.twitter.com/ULu5Lhoz8D
It wasn’t meant to be as sloppy play held back the superstar, finishing the day with 19 unforced errors and just 15 winners. She also got only 57 percent of her first serves in play.
After a break in the 11th game of the set, Rybakina closed out the match with her serve for arguably the biggest win in her young career.
Tennis Channel @TennisChannel
Biggest win of her career: clinched. 👊<br><br>Elena Rybakina upsets Serena Williams in straight sets 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals in Paris.<br>How it happened: https://t.co/ERTqPDKTXH#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/U9lpXwXYhJ
Williams has had an up-and-down 2021 season where she has been limited by a shoulder injury and inconsistency. She reached the Australian Open semifinals but went 1-2 over her next two tournaments in May, both on clay in Italy.
A fourth-round exit in Paris represents more disappointment for a player who has won this event three times. The 39-year-old will now look to bounce back by Wimbledon, scheduled to begin on June 28.
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