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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 17, 2018

 
Venus Williams

World No. 91 Qiang Wang upset ninth-seeded Venus Williams, 6-4, 7-5, in her Roland Garros opener scoring the biggest win of her career.

Photo credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe

Darting to her left, Venus Williams stumbled trying to reach Qiang Wang's churning crosscourt drive that dotted the corner.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion fought to find her footing, but could not stay in step with a sharp Wang.

More: Stephens Sweeps in Roland Garros Demolition

The 91st-ranked Wang scored the biggest win of her career sweeping the ninth-seeded Williams, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the Roland Garros second round for the second time.




Trailing 0-3 in the second set, Wang reeled off seven of the last nine games sending Williams spiraling to her fourth career opening-round exit in Paris.

It marked the second straight major that Williams failed to clear the first hurdle—the first time in her glorious Grand Slam career Venus suffered successive first-round losses. Williams reached two Grand Slam finals
—Australian Open and Wimbledon—last year as well as the US Open semifinal last season.

Though Wang took the court with a 7-12 career clay-court record and a 1-11 mark against Top 10 opponents, the upset is not exactly a shock.

The 26-year-old Chinese took a set from Williams at Wimbledon last year, the 37-year-old American had won just one clay-court match this season and Wang played with more poise and precision on pivotal points today.

Wang committed just 14 unforced errors—21 fewer than the 2002 French Open finalist
—scoring her first Top 10 win since she defeated then 10th-ranked Caroline Wozniacki at the 2013 Kuala Lumpur.

In a rematch of the 2017 Roland Garros first round, which Williams won 6-4, 7-6 (3), tension popped from the first point.

Wang capped a 12-minute opening game converting her sixth break point. Williams responded breaking back and posting the first hold.

Midway through the set, Wang began asserting herself more in baseline rallies. An ace helpd the Chinese hold after six games.

Losing her range, Williams put a backhand and double fault into net as Wang broke for 5-4.

Bolting a backhand down the line, Wang opened the court beautifully coaxing a running forehand error to snatch a one-set lead after 48 minutes.

Eager to assert her first-strike attack, Williams charged out to a 3-0 second-set lead.

Wang was undeterred.

Engaging the veteran in extended rallies, Wang drew a flat forehand into the tape breaking back for 2-3.

Denying a break point in the sixth game, Wang was moving smoothly draining errors from the former world No. 1. When Williams' running forehand sailed beyond the baseline, Wang was even after six games.

Deadlocked at 4-all, Williams whipped a heavy body serve and hammered a backhand crosscourt to save break point.

A wild, wawyard forehand from Williams gave Wang break point in the 11th game.

Clanking her fourth double fault, Williams dropped serve handing Wang a 6-5 lead and the shot to serve out her second career Top 10 triumph.

Williams' two-handed backhand is typically her most reliable weapon. Wang took that shot on in a crackling backhand to backhand echange she drew the error for match point. She closed in one hour, 40 minutes converting four of 12 break points.

 

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