Serena Williams loses epic to Harmony Tan as time catches up with 40-year-old

There are few things in this world that Serena Williams has enjoyed more than a comeback throughout her career. She underwent knee surgery in 2003, yet within a year of her return she was a grand slam champion again. After arriving at the 2007 Australian Open ranked 81st, she left with the title. She nearly died from a pulmonary embolism in 2011, but she toiled back to enjoy her greatest years. In 2017, Williams survived a life-threatening childbirth, yet she recovered to reach four grand slam finals.

Over the course of her 27 years as a professional tennis player, Williams has seen generations rise and fall, with most of her contemporaries over a decade into retirement. But time comes for us all, and in a torrid evening on Centre Court showed the challenge before her in the final chapter of her career.

After tearing her hamstring in a fall on Centre Court last year and then not playing another singles match for 52 weeks, on Tuesday she made her return in the same venue and round. Rusty, rhythmless and dearth of confidence against a player who gave her none, Williams recovered from a set down before falling in the first round of Wimbledon 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7) to France’s Harmony Tan.

In terms of ranking and experience, this was one of the more pleasant draws Williams could have possibly received. Tan, ranked 115, had lost seven of her last eight tour level main draw matches. But Tan is a tricky player with a deep toolbox of varied shots, slices and spins, and as Williams tried to find her range after a one year layoff, she raised her level and offered no rhythm at all.

“When I saw the draw, I was really scared,’ said Tan afterwards. “Because it’s Serena Williams, she’s a legend. I was like, oh my god. How can I play? If I