Serena Williams lost for the first time in her stunning comeback when the American great and her Czech partner Karolína Muchová were beaten at the Berlin Open on Tuesday.
Giuliana Olmos of Mexico and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe prevailed 6-4, 6-2 at Steffi Graf Stadium just hourse after Williams was confirmed to receive a wildcard for the Wimbledon doubles together with her sistar Venus.
Williams showed flashes of her class in front of a partisan crowd which included her two daughters and that she is in impressive shape.
She originally retired in 2022 but returned last week in London at the Queen's event where she won the opening doubles with Victoria Mboko before her Canadian partner had to quit the tournament injured.
Williams boasts 23 grand slam singles titles, and 14 in doubles with Venus, including six Wimbledons. They also won three Olympic golds.
"I felt pretty good out there. I felt actually more nimble and more sturdy and quicker than the first match in Queen's. Overall, I feel pretty good.,” Williams said after Tuesday's match.
Informed that Wimbledon wildcards for singles are still available, she quipped “I suppose I’ll have to head off to training" but adding that she didn't know whether she would accept it if chosen.
Muchová had earlier won her singles match 6-1, 6-3 against China's Zhang Shuai. former winner Madison Keys also beat a Chinese player in last year's finalist Wang Xinyu, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.
Sixth-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina and French player Diane Parry were among other winners.
Eva Lys, the only German in the tournament, won 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 over Polish qualifier Magdalena Frech.
Players starting on Wednesday include world number one Aryna Sabalenka and American Coco Gauff.
