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Agence France-Presse

Serena Williams’s bid to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title was thwarted again on Saturday when she was knocked out of the French Open 6-2, 7-5 by US compatriot Sofia Kenin in the third round.
It was 37-year-old Serena’s earliest exit at the Slams since a third round loss to Alize Cornet at Wimbledon in 2014.
Kenin, the 20-year-old world number 35, will face eighth seed Ashleigh Barty of Australia for a place in the quarter-finals.
Three-time Roland Garros champion Williams was attempting to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 majors.

“She played really well, especially in the first set where she hit pretty much within an inch of the line all the time,” said Williams.
The America veteran, who played just one clay court match in Rome before suffering a knee injury in the run up to the French Open, said she had expected to progress further in Paris.
“I would have expected to have gotten past the third round. If someone said I would only get this far, I’d have said they were a liar.
“But it is what it is.”
Serena Williams blows huge third-set lead in Australian Open quarter-final loss
“I haven’t been on the court as much as I would have wanted to and it’s been a gruelling season for me.”
Kenin was not even born when Williams made her Paris debut in 1998.
“There’s a lot of emotions now,” said the Russian-born player.
“Serena is such a great champion and I have all the respect for her. I had to fight for every point.”
Williams, who has still to add to her majors collection since she returned to the tour after giving birth to her daughter, fired 30 winners and 34 unforced errors.

Kenin committed only half as many.
Kenin broke twice in the first set, celebrating every mini-triumph with a ‘c’mon’.
‘Queen’ Serena Williams and Virgil Abloh rule in Paris
She went 3-1 ahead in the second set before Williams, the 2002, 2013 and 2015 champion, clawed her way back to 3-3.
But Kenin grabbed what proved to be the crucial break in the 11th game and held her nerve to take victory on a second match point when Williams fired a backhand long.


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French Open

French Open: Serena Williams knocked out by Sofia Kenin in third-round upset

Serena Williams during her women's singles third round match with Sofia Kenin at the French Open on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 1, 2019. Serena Williams of the U.S. reacts during her third round match against Sofia Kenin of the U.S. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Sofia Kenin of the U.S. plays a shot in her third round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Serena Williams of the U.S. at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Saturday, June 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Australian Open: Serena Williams blows huge third-set lead as Karolina Pliskova comes back to dump out American

Serena Williams was knocked out by Karolina Pliskova at the Australian Open. Photo: AP

Tennis - Australian Open - Quarter-final - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 23, 2019. Serena Williams of the U.S. waves to the crowd as she exits the court after losing the match to Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Naomi Osaka of Japan plays against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 23, 2019. Osaka won 6-4, 6-1. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts after winning a point against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on Jan. 23, 2019. Osaka won 6-4, 6-1. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Tennis - Australian Open - Quarter-final - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, January 23, 2019. Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova reacts after winning the match against Serena Williams of the U.S. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Serena Williams’ US Open treatment divides the tennis world

There were messages of support for Williams, who was fined US$17,000, as well as those condemning her behaviour and agreeing with the umpire’s calls

FILE - In a Saturday June 18, 2016 file photo, John McEnroe, Coach to Canada's Milos Raconic, looks across the court as Raconic plays Australia's Bernard Tomic during their semifinal tennis match on the sixth day of the Queen's Championships London. McEnroe wants to see players get fed up that they can't break through against Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, that they remain stuck behind Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray heading into Wimbledon.(AP Photo/Tim Ireland, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2015, file photo, Australian tennis great Margaret Court looks on during the official launch of the remodeled Margaret Court Arena at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia. Martina Navratilova has written an open letter criticizing Margaret Court's comments about same-sex marriage and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and recommending that tennis officials rename the arena that bears the Australian great's name at Melbourne Park. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)

Serena Williams yelling at chair umpire Carlos Ramos in the women's final against Naomi Osaka of Japan on Saturday. Williams was fined US$17,000 for her outbursts. Photo: USA Today

US Open: Naomi Osaka beats angry Serena Williams to become first Japanese to win a grand slam title

Naomi Osaka, of Japan after defeating Serena Williams in the women's final of the US Open tennis tournament on Saturday. Photo: AP

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Serena Williams of the United States reacts after her defeat in the Women's Singles finals match to Naomi Osaka of Japan on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Julian Finney/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 08: Serena Williams of the United States argues with umpire Carlos Ramos during her Women's Singles finals match against Naomi Osaka of Japan on Day Thirteen of the 2018 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Julian Finney/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

‘Queen’ Serena Williams lets her clothes do the talking in Paris – with a little help from Virgil Abloh

Serena Williams sports a Virgil Abloh zebra-striped ensemble during the first-round victory over Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

(190528) -- PARIS, May 28, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Serena Williams of the United States hits a return during the women's singles first round match with Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia at French Open tennis tournament 2019 at Roland Garros in Paris, France on May 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

(190528) -- PARIS, May 28, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Serena Williams of the United States reacts during the women's singles first round match with Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia at French Open tennis tournament 2019 at Roland Garros in Paris, France on May 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Serena Williams of the United States plays against Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia in the first round of the French Open tennis tournament in Paris on May 27, 2019. Williams won 2-6, 6-1, 6-0. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Williams was attempting to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles
Kenin was not even born when Williams first appeared at Roland Garros


Williams, a three-time champion at Roland Garros, was attempting to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles.


Serena Williams

French Open: Serena Williams knocked out by Sofia Kenin in third-round upset

Williams was attempting to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles Kenin was not even born when Williams first appeared at Roland Garros

Williams was attempting to tie Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles

Kenin was not even born when Williams first appeared at Roland Garros