Analysts and fans everywhere have already made a foregone conclusion that top-ranked Serena Williams will go on to dominate the field and win her sixth Wimbledon singles title at the All England Club by the end of this week. However, this was spoiled by Germany’s Sabine Lisicki.
The 23rd-seed roared her way back despite being down 0-3 in the final set to subdue the 16-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
“I went out on the court to win the match,” Lisicki said. “That’s my goal. That’s what I do every time I go out on the court. Of course it gave me a little more energy knowing she won the French Open and I’ve beaten the French Open champion three times in a row in my last three appearances.
“It was a good omen. They always happen to be on the side of the draw I’m on.”
Lisicki’s last four appearances at Wimbledon has been impressive. She’s reached the quarterfinals or better and in those past four visits, she has defeated the French Open champion of that year – in 2009 (d. Svetlana Kuznetsova), in 2011 (d. Li Na), in 2012 (d. Maria Sharapova) and this year, Serena Williams. She missed the tournament in 2010 due to an ankle injury.
“I didn’t play the big points well enough,” Williams said, her 34-match winning streak coming to an end. “I definitely feel like I could have gone for it a little more on some of the shots. I didn’t do what I do best. I think I had a little hesitation today.
“But Sabine played really well, as well. She always plays really well at Wimbledon. And she’s always on against big players and on big courts. It was just another one of those moments. So I knew going in it would be a tough match. But, you know, there’s definitely huge room for improvement for me.”
