Johanna Konta hands Serena Williams her worst-ever loss on the WTA Tour
Johanna Konta required only 53 minutes to hand Serena Williams the worst defeat of her professional career.
Twenty-three time Grand Slam winner Williams won just one game as she was thrashed 6-1, 6-0 by the British No 1 in the opening round of the Silicon Valley Open in San Jose on Tuesday.
.@JohannaKonta stuns Serena Williams, 6-1, 6-0!
Takes 12 games in a row to move into @MubadalaSVC second round! pic.twitter.com/MtZY0Bkos4
— WTA (@WTA) August 1, 2018
It was the first time that the American, who turned pro in 1995, had lost a match on the WTA Tour without winning at least two games.
Both were playing in their first competitive matches since Wimbledon, but it was the 2018 SW19 runner-up Williams who was clearly not at the races as she committed 25 unforced errors and landed just 41 percent of her first serves.
Konta, meanwhile, produced 17 winners and made just nine unforced errors.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be on the same court as Serena,” the Brit said after the match. “After all she’s achieved, it’s so humbling just to come up against her. She obviously wasn’t playing her best level – nowhere near – so I tried to play the match on my terms and just do what I can out here, put aside what an incredible champion she is, and just play the player on the day.
“I might have been better on the day, but it’s still a humbling experience to be out there with her.”
Konta will take on American teenager Sofia Kenin in the second round.
It was a good day for the Brits as Heather Watson also advanced with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over Claire Liu.
Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova beat Qiang Wang 6-2, 7-5.
