Serena Williams hinted at playing the US Open later this year after her shocking first-round exit from Wimbledon
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Serena Williams has already got her eyes on the US Open after her shocking Wimbledon exit.
The 40-year-old was knocked out in the first round by Harmony Tan on Tuesday.
“There’s always motivation to get better and play at home,” she said.
Serena Williams hinted that she could play at the US Open later this year after her shocking first-round exit from Wimbledon.
Williams, 40, was defeated 5-7, 6-1, 6-7 (7-10) by France’s Harmony Tan on Tuesday, prematurely bringing her hunt for an eighth Wimbledon title to an end.
“It definitely makes me want to hit the practice courts,” she told reporters after the defeat.
“When you’re so close – any other opponent would have suited my game better – I definitely think it’s like, ‘OK, Serena, you can do it if you want.'”
Asked about a potential appearance at Flushing Meadows in August, she said: “When you’re at home, especially in New York and that being the place I first won a Grand Slam, it is always special.
“There’s always motivation to get better and play at home.”
Heading into Wimbledon, Williams had taken a near year-long hiatus from tennis, leading to speculation that she had quietly retired from the sport.
But in early June she delighted fans by revealing she had been given a wildcard entry to Wimbledon before making her long-awaited return to the court at last week’s Eastbourne Invitational, where she paired up with Ons Jabeur in the women’s doubles.
Against Tan on Tuesday, however, Williams’ lack of match fitness proved to be her downfall as she appeared visibly fatigued the longer the match, which lasted more than three hours, went on.
She said after that she was disappointed not to be able to give more but that she was still pleased with her performance.
“I gave all I could do,” she said. Maybe tomorrow I could have given more. Maybe a week ago I could have given more. But today was what I could do.”
She added: “Physically I did pretty good. The last couple of points I was really suffering, but I feel like winning those key points is something mentally you have to have.
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“If you play week-in, week-out, or every three or four weeks there is a little more match toughness. You have to think if I was playing matches I wouldn’t miss some of those points.”
Tan plays Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round on Thursday.
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