Sports World Reacts to Serena Williams’s First Round Wimbledon Loss

The 23-time Grand Slam champion was sent home after losing to Harmony Tan in a three-set thriller.

Serena Williams’s return to Wimbledon was long-awaited and, ultimately, short-lived.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by France’s Harmony Tan, 7–5 1–6, 6–7(7), in a match that ran three hours and 10 minutes. Williams had the support of the crowd at Centre Court and won the first four points of the tiebreaker, but was unable to maintain her momentum. Tan will face No. 32 Sara Sorribes Tormo from Spain in round two on Thursday.

"She's beaten a legend."

After three hours, 10 minutes, Harmony Tan beats Serena Williams in a first round epic#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/IQst8AzXxv

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2022

The loss leaves the question lingering of whether this was Williams’s final match at Wimbledon, as she’s already been rumored to retire soon. The 40-year-old has yet to comment publicly on the matter.

Watch Tennis online with fuboTV: Try for free!

One year ago, Williams retired in her first round match due to an ankle injury. Then, she missed an entire year’s worth of tournaments before announcing that she would be returning to the grass Grand Slam tournament. It’s unclear when Williams will play again.

Given the speculation about her future and the unmatched dominance she’s experienced in the sport, seeing Williams get beaten in the first round garnered plenty of reaction. Check out some of the most notable below:

Before racing to speculate on Serena (doubtful she's retiring at 11p on a Tuesday)....how about we pause to acknowledge Harmony Tan and her poise... #Wimbledon2022

— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) June 28, 2022

I might cry

— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) June 28, 2022

That might be it

— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) June 28, 2022

serena still a queen

— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) June 28, 2022

Serena is an incredible competitor and poured it all out today. She also just lost to a junkballer at Wimbledon. We need to stop talking about her winning majors. If she wants to keep playing, great, but this is the last phase.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) June 28, 2022

What a moment.

Serena battled for more three hours and lost, but it was a far, far greater ending more than her tearful #Wimbledon exit last year.

Given everything, lots to be proud of for Serena tonight.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 28, 2022

Serena Williams is everything I love about sports right now

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) June 28, 2022

Serena Williams loses in the opening round of a major for just the 3rd time.

The other two came at the 2012 French Open against Virginie Razzano and at last year's Wimbledon against Aliaksandra Sasnovich (retired due to a hamstring injury). pic.twitter.com/Xnd0hE3i4n

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 28, 2022

After 384 days from playing a singles match, Serena played her absolute heart out today and lost. She truly has nothing to prove. The GOAT.

— George M Johnson Garçon (@IamGMJohnson) June 28, 2022