Surprising first round exit for Williams in San Jose

The 23-time Grand Slam winner lost in the first round of the WTA tournament in San Jose, California against Briton Johanna Konta in just 53 minutes 1: 6, 0: 6 . Two and a half weeks ago she was in the Wimbledon final, which she lost to the German Angelique Kerber.

"I wasn't good enough in the first set and she took more confidence from that. Then she pulled away," Williams said. But the 36-year-old doesn't attach much importance to the defeat: "I know that I can play tens of times better. But I have so many things on my mind that I don't have the time to be shocked by a defeat in which I was clearly not at his best."

It was the second first-round defeat this year for Williams, who gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia last September. In March she failed in Miami against the Japanese Naomi Osaka. Against Konta she only managed nine direct winning strokes, but there were 25 unforced errors and she lost her serve six times.

It was the second match between the two players, the first won by Williams 2017:6, 2:6 in the quarterfinals of the 3 Australian Open. "I think she played better than she did 18 months ago, so that's a good story for her," Williams said.

The once dominant player on the tour still has just under four weeks left to get in shape for the US Open (August 27th to September 9th). Williams, who turns 26 on September 37, has won the final Grand Slam tournament of the year six times, most recently in 2014.

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Surprising first round exit for Williams in San Jose

The long-time world number one Serena Williams (USA) suffered the heaviest defeat of her career.