'I never expected to win. I wouldn't say it's a miracle, but it's a breakthrough'
World number 127 Sun Tiantian took Serena Williams by surprise at the China Open, earning a 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) second-round upset to complete a hat-trick of wins by Chinese players last night.
Williams, suffering with a knee problem and struggling with her game, was unable to turn the tide in the face of 22 unforced errors.
The defending champion, seeded fourth, will now only be able to watch as third-seeded sister Venus plays her opening match against Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain tonight.
Williams, a seven-time grand slam winner, was subdued after her Chinese lesson at the Beijing Tennis Centre. 'I'm very disappointed, I struggled all night, I played terrible,' she said.
'Sun hit the ball well, I never expected a tough match like this. I was struggling with my left knee. I'm disappointed I couldn't perform better. Sun played well, she was ready for the match.'
Sun had to overcome a case of nerves as she failed twice to serve it out in the second set, squandering a match point in the process. In the tiebreaker, Williams saved three more match points, with Sun salvaging a Williams set point before finally closing out the biggest singles success of her career.