Serena, Osaka crash out of WTA Tour
Serena Williams made an unsuccessful return to the WTA Tour as she joined Naomi Osaka in crashing out of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in the second round on Wednesday.
Williams was playing the 1,000th match of her glittering career against Nadia Podoroska, her first since losing in the Australian Open semi-finals to Osaka in February.
The American has experienced significant success in Rome, winning the title four times.
But she was always likely to be tested by a player who reached the French Open semi-finals last year.
And that proved the case as she slumped to a 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 defeat in spite of threatening a second set fightback.
Having won the first set on a tie-break, Podoroska continued to dominate the longer exchanges and went 5-2 up in the second.
From there, Williams won 12 straight points to level matters at 5-5.
But Podoroska then claimed a nervy service hold to force the 23-time grand slam champion to serve to stay in the match.
She never came close to doing so as Williams was broken to love, a miscued forehand long giving Podoroska one of the biggest wins of her career.
Earlier in the day, Naomi Osaka was defeated in straight sets by Jessica Pegula.
Osaka has made no secret of her discomfort on clay, having never gone beyond the third round at Roland Garros.
All of her 10 WTA singles titles have come on the hardcourt and she was undone on the red dirt once more as Pegula prevailed 7-6 (7-2) 6-2.
(dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Anti-Corruption
Yahaya Bello withdrew $720,000 from Kogi treasury to pay child’s school fees in advance: EFCC Chair
At an interactive session with media executives on Tuesday, Mr Olukoyede said Mr Bello used the money to pay his child’s school fees in advance.
Politics
Ondo APC Primary: Jimoh Ibrahim, female aspirant petition election appeal committee
Wale Akinteriwa, Gbenga Edema, and Jimi Odimayo, who contested the election, had filed petitions earlier on Monday over the poll’s conduct and result.
States
Delta Assembly confirms chairman of state pension bureau, two others
In his remarks, the speaker commended the lawmakers for their contributions to successfully screening the nominees.
Opinion
Jason Baker: A dangerous animal torturer and killer must be stopped
But if “Enenie nwa ite” is allowed to continue torturing, maiming, burning, crushing, and slaughtering animals, the detrimental repercussions will be profound.
Ibadan
Court jails two for illegal currency trading in Ibadan
The SSS prosecutor, T.A. Nurudeen, told the court that the convicts were being tried for unlawful currency trading.
World
Taliban court orders public whipping of two men accused of robbery
The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has seen the reintroduction of public punishments, including execution and flogging, for various crimes.