Day four of the 2014 French Open began
with the prospect of Serena and Venus Williams setting up their 25th
career meeting in the third round.
But less than two-and-a-half hours after play started at Roland Garros, both sisters were headed home.
Elder sibling Venus went a set up against Anna Schmiedlova before going down 2-6 6-3 6-4, but it is world No.1 and defending champion Serena's defeat to 20-year-old Garbine Muguruza that sent shockwaves through Paris.
The second set was a tense affair. Having cruised through the first, Muguruza stormed into a 3-0 lead before Serena broke.
But unseeded Muguruza, ranked 31 places below her opponent, broke straight back to love before holding from love-40. The Spaniard held her nerve to serve out for the match.
"It was one of those days," said Serena, who has never won fewer points in any of her 288 grand slam matches. "You can't be on every day, and, gosh, I hate to be off during a grand slam. It happens, you know. It's not the end of the world. It is what it is."
Serena struggled from the start against Muguruza and finished the match with only eight winners and 29 unforced errors.
"I don't think anything worked for me today, which is just nothing
really worked," she added. "I don't know anything that actually worked."
When handed the microphone, Muguruza screamed "I'm so happy!" It was greeted by a huge roar from the Court Suzanne Lenglen crowd.
"To beat Serena Williams at Roland Garros feels amazing. I didn't expect that, but I played very well.
"I had to be really aggressive and keep focus because she is an unbelievable player and very difficult to play against so I think I did that well."
With the Williams sisters out, as well as second seed Li Na, Maria Sharapova must now be the clear favourite for a second Roland Garros title in three years after moving into the third round by beating Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 7-5 6-2.
"You just worry about your own path," Sharapova said when asked about this week's upsets. "I need to focus on what's in front of me."
There was another shock out on Court Six as Italian 12th seed Flavia Pennetta was upended by Swede Johanna Larsson 5-7 6-4 6-2.
Larsson will face Eugenie Bouchard - who last week broke her WTA title duck - as the young Canadian 18th seed came from a set down to beat Germany's Julia Goerges 2-6 6-2 6-1.
Eighth seed Angelique Kerber is also through after seeing off American Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 7-5.
But less than two-and-a-half hours after play started at Roland Garros, both sisters were headed home.
Elder sibling Venus went a set up against Anna Schmiedlova before going down 2-6 6-3 6-4, but it is world No.1 and defending champion Serena's defeat to 20-year-old Garbine Muguruza that sent shockwaves through Paris.
The second set was a tense affair. Having cruised through the first, Muguruza stormed into a 3-0 lead before Serena broke.
But unseeded Muguruza, ranked 31 places below her opponent, broke straight back to love before holding from love-40. The Spaniard held her nerve to serve out for the match.
"It was one of those days," said Serena, who has never won fewer points in any of her 288 grand slam matches. "You can't be on every day, and, gosh, I hate to be off during a grand slam. It happens, you know. It's not the end of the world. It is what it is."
Serena struggled from the start against Muguruza and finished the match with only eight winners and 29 unforced errors.
Maria Sharapova saw off Tsvetana Pironkova
© Getty Images
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When handed the microphone, Muguruza screamed "I'm so happy!" It was greeted by a huge roar from the Court Suzanne Lenglen crowd.
"To beat Serena Williams at Roland Garros feels amazing. I didn't expect that, but I played very well.
"I had to be really aggressive and keep focus because she is an unbelievable player and very difficult to play against so I think I did that well."
With the Williams sisters out, as well as second seed Li Na, Maria Sharapova must now be the clear favourite for a second Roland Garros title in three years after moving into the third round by beating Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 7-5 6-2.
"You just worry about your own path," Sharapova said when asked about this week's upsets. "I need to focus on what's in front of me."
There was another shock out on Court Six as Italian 12th seed Flavia Pennetta was upended by Swede Johanna Larsson 5-7 6-4 6-2.
Larsson will face Eugenie Bouchard - who last week broke her WTA title duck - as the young Canadian 18th seed came from a set down to beat Germany's Julia Goerges 2-6 6-2 6-1.
Eighth seed Angelique Kerber is also through after seeing off American Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 7-5.
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