bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

World number one Serena Williams crashed out of the WTA Tour's Family Circle Cup, losing her opening match in straight sets to world number 78 Jana Cepelova.
The 20-year-old Slovakian Cepelova shocked defending champion Williams 6-4, 6-4 in a second-round match at the clay court tournament in Charleston.
The 17-time grand slam winner Williams complained about being mentally fatigued after the 84- minute contest.
"I am really just dead," said the 32-year-old American. "I need some weeks off where I don't think about tennis and can kind of regroup. I've had a long couple of years."
Williams, who won this event in 2013, 2012 and 2008, also had her 15-match tour win streak snapped.

	I am really just dead. I need some weeks off where I don't think about tennis and can kind of regroup. I've had a long couple of years

	Serena Williams
Williams was fresh off winning her sixth Miami title and 59th singles crown after beating world No 2 Li Na, of China, on the weekend.
"I actually made the turnaround really good," Williams said. "Obviously things didn't go great out there."

Unseeded Cepelova, who appears to be headed for a breakout year, was facing Williams for the first time.
Cepelova won 55 per cent of her first serves and 71 of 136 total points. She advances to face Elena Vesnina of Russia, who beat another Slovakian, Anna Schmiedlova, 6-2, 6-1.
Williams, 32, blasted four aces, but committed three double faults. She won just 12 of 28 points on her second serve.
"I really knew nothing about her game going into the match," Williams said.
"She was a great counterpuncher. She played the best she can play."
Williams said she now wanted some time off.
"I am going to go on a vacation for sure," she said. "I just need to take a deep breath and regroup. I think it will help me for the rest of the clay court season coming up."
Ousting the world number one came as a surprise even for Cepelova, who had never even beaten a top 15 player before.
Her previous biggest win was against former Charleston champion Samantha Stosur earlier this year in Doha. Stosur, of Australia, was ranked 16th in the world.


Stephen Hawking, Serena Williams, Queen Elizabeth ... and more Hong Kong star visitors

Check out the styles of NewJeans singer Haerin, Serena Williams, Felix of Stray Kids, Lewis Hamilton and more

That time Serena Williams gushed about shopping in Hong Kong: the tennis legend was an hour late to a 2002 press event after an unplanned retail binge

China Open: Naomi Osaka wants ‘no regrets’ as she signs up Serena Williams’ former coach

Serena Williams

Unseeded Slovakian stuns mentally tired Serena Williams in Charleston

Jana Cepelova earned a shock second-round upset over Serena Williams, her first against a top-15 player. Photo: EPA

Serena Williams says she needs time off and hopes to be fit again for clay season. Photo: AFP

Sport

Tennis