Get to know Harmony Tan, the French tennis player who spoiled Serena Williams’ Wimbledon return

Harmony Tan spoiled Serena Williams’ return to Wimbledon.

Tan advanced to the second round of Wimbledon on Tuesday for the first time in her career following a dramatic 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 victory over Williams in a three-hour, 10-minute match that ended with a decisive third-set tiebreaker. It marked Williams’ first competitive singles match in a year and Tan’s first-ever Wimbledon match.

“I’m so emotional,” Tan said in a post-match interview. “(Williams is) a superstar and when I was young, watching her so many times on the TV. For my first Wimbledon… wow.”

Although Tan was “scared” to take on the 23-time Grand Slam winner, the French tennis player out-lasted Williams for the biggest win of her career and has instantly been catapulted into the spotlight.

WIMBLEDON: Serena loses three-set thriller against Harmony Tan as Wimbledon comeback falls short

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Harmony Tan celebrates after her win over Serena Williams during the first round of Wimbledon.

Here’s everything you need to know about Tan:

Where is Harmony Tan from?

Tan is a 24-year-old tennis player from France, who is ranked No. 115 in the world.

Who is Harmony Tan’s coach?

Tan is coached by former French pro Nathalie Tauziat, who finished as the runner-up in the 1998 Wimbledon Championships, her best showing at a Grand Slam. Tauziat reached a career-high ranking of No. 3 in 2000 before retiring from play in 2003.

Tan thanked her coach after her victory on Tuesday, noting that her coach also competed against Williams, although it was a “long time” ago.

“I would like to thank everybody today and my team and my coach Natalie Tauziat, who also played Serena,” Tan said. “Thank you Nathalie for being with me.”

Tauziat also coaches Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu.

Has Harmony Tan won a Grand Slam?

Tan has not won a Grand Slam title.

Tan was eliminated in the first round of the 2022 French Open by Colombia’s Camila Osorio, and advanced to the second round of the 2022 Australian Open before she was knocked out by Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina.

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Her victory over Williams marked the first Wimbledon match of her career. Tan admitted that she was “scared” when she learned she would be facing Williams.

“When I saw the draw, I was really scared because it’s Serena Williams,” Tan recalled. “She’s a legend.”

How did Harmony Tan beat Serena Williams?

Tan executed a game plan designed to test the legs and feel of Williams, who played her first competitive singles match in a year. Far from a powerful hitter, Tan neutralized Williams’ power with an array of drop shots, slices and short angles. Tan managed to draw 53 unforced errors from Williams, many of them on spinning balls close to the net that she had to hit either on the full run or while trying to change directions.

After the match, Tan said she was “really surprised” with the outcome.

Who will Harmony Tan face next?

Tan will face No. 32 Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain in the second round on Thursday.

Contributing: Dan Wolken

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harmony Tan spoils Serena Williams’ Wimbledon return: Who is she?