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The 23-time Grand Slam title holder, 39, lost 6-3, 7-5 in straight sets against the Kazakhstani 21-year-old. After falling behind in the first set, Williams attempted to recover in the second, but Rybakina proved victorious in her first career meeting with the American tennis star.
Williams' exit marks her 14th loss at the French Open, bringing her win-loss record to 69-14. Williams, who’s won the French Open three times, hasn’t passed the fourth round at Roland-Garros since 2016 when she was runner-up.
Even though her 40th birthday is coming up in September, Williams isn’t even thinking about retiring just yet. “Yeah, I’m definitely not thinking about it at all. I’m definitely thinking just about other things, but not about that,” shesaid, according to ESPN.
Williams' next opportunity to score her 24th Grand Slam title will be at Wimbledon, which kicks off on June 28. “I’m kind of excited to switch surfaces,” she said of Wimbledon’s grass court after exiting Roland-Garros' clay court. “Historically, I have done pretty well on grass.” Her 24th singles title would tie her with Margaret Court’s record-setting 1973 achievement.
RELATED VIDEO:Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, and More Stars Show Support for Naomi Osaka After French Open Exit
The world’s No. 8 in women’s singles is the latest top-10 pro to depart this year’s French Open.Roger Federerbowed outSunday due to concerns over his healing knee while Naomi Osakawithdrew from the tournamentafter she was fined forskipping a press eventto preserve her mental health.
When not working on securing her next title, Williams has beenteaching her daughterAlexis Olympia Jr., 3, the sport. “Honestly, we started because it’s a socially safe sport, and when COVID happened, it was like, we’re just in the house with a 3-year-old, what do we do?” she told PEOPLE in April. “There was only one answer, to my dismay.”
source: people.com
