China’s Qiang Wang has eliminated 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams from the Australian Open, defeating the decorated American in three sets 6-4, 6-7 and 7-5 in Melbourne on Friday.
On social media, fans hailed Wang’s performance, describing it as a masterclass. The 28-year-old athlete, from the Chinese port city of Tianjin, was the number 27 seed heading into the tournament. She will now face off against Tunisian national Ons Jabeur in the fourth round on Saturday.
The moment of a LIFETIME!
Qiang Wang puts on an absolute masterclass in the match of the tournament to shock Serena Williams 6-4 6-7(2) 7-5 and advance to a first career #AusOpen round of 16.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/gnGkAMaU8X
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2020
Williams’ exit marks the first time she has failed to advance past the third round at Melbourne Park since 2006. She falls to 108-5 in her career during the first week of hard court majors.
Friday’s stunning defeat also extends Williams’ drought without a major championship since she last won the Australian Open in 2017 while pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia.
Williams, 38, who two weeks ago won her first WTA title since 2017, remains one Grand Slam title away from tying Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24. Her next chance to equal Court’s record will be at the French Open in May.
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