Serena Williams Defeated in 2019 French Open Williams lost in the third round of the French Open to 20-year-old Sofia Kenin. The Russian-born American defeated Williams 6-2 and 7-5 and is ranked No. 35 in the world. Williams is a three-time winner of the French Open and ranked No. 10, but came into this year’s competition with minimal preparation. She had been combating both a sprained ankle and a left knee injury for months. Williams had also been out of practice, having only played nine matches since the Australian Open in January 2019. This is Williams’ earliest Grand Slam exit since her dramatic withdrawal from Wimbledon in 2014, which was reportedly due to a viral illness. It is also only the third time in her career that she’s lost to a younger U.S. player. Following her loss, Williams took to Instagram to address the situation with a motivational message. Serena Williams, via Instagram
