Sharon Ekhiwere
Serena Williams was thrashed by Emma Raducanu in the first round of the penultimate tournament of her career but was still given a hero’s send-off following the 6-4, 6-0 defeat to Emma Raducanu at the Western & Southern Open.
Moments after losing, the 2021 US Open champion was given a standing ovation from the crowd and drew praise from her opponent on the court after the match.
“We all should honor Serena and her amazing career,” Raducanu said. “I’m so grateful for the experience to have been able to play her and for our careers to have crossed over. Everything she’s achieved is so inspirational. It was a true honor to share the court with her.”
Williams, for her part, appeared to decline the on-court interviewer as she quickly packed her bags and walked off the court immediately after the match, waving and smiling to the crowd as she went. A microphone that had been set up on the opposite side of the net from Raducanu’s interview was then removed from the court.
Reigning US Open champion Raducanu will play Victoria Azarenka in the second round.
Meanwhile, British men’s number two Dan Evans lost 6-3 6-4 to Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic.
Evans, 32, reached the Montreal semi-finals last week but was unable to sustain that form at the second successive ATP Masters event.
Fellow Britons Andy Murray and Cameron Norrie meet in the second round on Wednesday, followed on the centre court by Raducanu’s match against Belarus’ former world number one, Victoria Azarenka.