PARIS – Serena Williams’s bid to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title was thwarted again on Saturday when she was knocked out of the French Open 6-2, 7-5 by US compatriot Sofia Kenin in the third round.
It was 37-year-old Serena’s earliest exit at the Slams since a third round loss to Alize Cornet at Wimbledon in 2014.
Kenin, the 20-year-old world number 35, will face eighth seed Ashleigh Barty of Australia for a place in the quarter-finals.
Three-time Roland Garros champion Williams was attempting to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 majors.
“There’s a lot of emotions now,” said Kenin who wasn’t even born when Williams made her Paris debut in 1998.
“Serena is such a great champion and I have all the respect for her. I had to fight for every point.”
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/SofiaKenin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SofiaKenin #RG19 pic.twitter.com/P8TAGkvRPq
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros)
Williams, who has still to add to her majors collection since she returned to the tour after giving birth to her daughter, fired 30 winners and 34 unforced errors.