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BSP-07
TENNIS-AUS-OPEN-SERENA
‘I’m done’: Williams walks out in tears after semi-final defeat
MELBOURNE, Feb 18, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Serena Williams broke down in tears and
cut short her post-match press conference after another failed bid to equal
Margaret Court’s record Grand Slam haul, calling her defeat to Naomi Osaka “a
big error day”.
The veteran American’s quest to reach a ninth Australian Open final and
match Court’s 24 major singles titles ended in a 6-3, 6-4 semi-final mauling
by the Japanese third seed.
Williams, 39, broke early for a 2-0 lead before Osaka reeled off five
straight games to leave her shellshocked.
“The difference today was errors. I made so many errors,” said the 23-time
Grand Slam champion.
“Honestly, it was opportunities where I could have won. I could have been
up 5-0. It was a big error day for me.”
Pressed on what caused her to make so many mistakes, tears began to flow
as she told reporters: “I don’t know. I’m done,” before walking out.
In a clash of power games clashed, it was Osaka who had the edge, hitting
20 winners to Williams’s 12, while also committing three fewer unforced
errors on 21.
Williams said she had been hitting well all tournament and had no
explanation for the loss other than “too many mistakes there, easy mistakes”.
Osaka’s victory left Williams still stranded on 23 Grand Slam crowns, one
short of Court’s tally, with her last major title coming in Melbourne four
years ago when she was pregnant.
Williams has lost four Slam finals since and as she walked off court put
her hand over her heart, almost as if saying farewell.
Asked about it afterwards, she suggested the gesture was more about
acknowledging the crowd, who were allowed back into Rod Laver Arena after a
five-day snap lockdown and gave the American a rousing send-off.
“I don’t know. If I ever say farewell, I wouldn’t tell anyone,” she said.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1254 hrs