SERENA WILLIAMS’ warm-up for the US Open was given a jolt after she suffered her worst defeat since teaming up with coach Patrick Mouratoglou in 2012.

The former world no.1 was toppled in the quarter-finals by fellow American Shelby Rogers in the Top Seed Open at Lexington, Kentucky on August 14.

Chasing a record-equalling 24 Grand Slam singles crown when the US Open starts later this month, the out of sorts Williams was surprisingly defeated by 1-6 6-4 7-6(5).

Although Williams led 3-1 in the final set tiebreak, she dropped six of the next eight points to be sent tumbling. The shock reversal was only the top seed’s fifth defeat to a player ranked outside the world’s top 100, with the no.116-ranked South Carolina-based Rogers stunning her illustrious opponent with aplomb.

Success

Williams, who had looked less than convincing in her opening two matches that included a 2nd round three set success over her sister Venus, missed out on a semi-final all-American showdown with Jil Teichmann.

When French ace Virginie Razzano sent Williams crashing out of the 2012 French Open she sharply changed coaches, with Mouratoglou guiding her to Slam success at the Australian Open (2015 & 2017), French Open (2013 & 2015), Wimbledon (2015 & 2016) and the US Open (2013 & 2014).
 Yet Williams has been abysmal in her past four Grand Slam finals, missing the opportunity each time to equal Margaret Court’s record of Grand Slam singles titles.

But at least the legendary 38-year-old will have a chance to sharpen her game at next week’s Western & Southern Open that has been moved to New York just before the US Open. Williams needs to get used to the ambience of an empty stadium at Flushing Meadows, played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak, which she has thrived at in the past partly due to the patriotic support of the extremely vocal fans.

Hard-fought

Rising star Cori “Coco” Gauff, the 16-year-old sensation, reached only her second WTA Tour semi-final with a hard-fought and thrilling 4-6 6-4 6-1 triumph over no.8 seed Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian looked to be speeding to victory at 4-2 in the second set, only for Gauff to reel off 10 of the next 11 games to set up a final four contest against US compatriot Jennifer Brady.

Gauff may be the next best thing on the circuit, predicted by former players to be a future world no.1, while in stark contrast Williams is looking past her sell-by date and on a downward spiral.