Sports News

Barbora Krejcikova exits French Open – Serena Williams remains the last woman to defend a Grand Slam title

Published by

Defending champion Krejcikova’s first round exit from the French Open means Serena Williams’ Wimbledon 2016 win remains the last occasion of a female player defending a Grand Slam title

Winning a Grand Slam is easy, defending it is harder. This has been the theme in women’s tennis over the last few years and we witnessed it yet again at the ongoing French Open. Barbora Krejcikova’s title defense came to an end in the first round of the Roland Garros.

38-year old Serena Williams will be playing her fourth decade as a US Federation Cup player when her side takes on Latvia. (Getty Images)

The 2021 champion lost to local favourite Diane Parry 6-1, 2-6, 3-6 in a fascinating encounter.

The last woman to defend her Grand Slam title is Serena Williams back when she won the Wimbledon in 2016. She missed a third consecutive Wimbledon title in 2017 due to maternity leave – a break that virtually changed the face of women’s tennis. Since she won her record 23rd Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open, nine of the next 14 Majors have had first-time champions.

The last player before Serena to defend a Grand Slam title was Victoria Azarenka, at the Australian Open back in 2013. Emma Raducanu will have a chance to break the jinx later this year at the US Open but if she fails to do so, the streak will continue till at least 2023.

Fans react to the fascinating stat on Twitter

It is indeed fascinating that it has been 24 majors since a woman last defended her Grand Slam title. Fans shared their take on the stat on Twitter.

Related Post

“This will be another year, where we have 4 different Grand Slam champions from the WTA. I wonder who’s the favorite going into Wimbledon?”, tweeted a fan who feels the wait will continue beyond this year.

A Serena Williams fan, who is visibly happy with the stat, wrote – “Game. Set. STILL, THE BEST to ever do it. Serena Williams. Serena Slam. Olympic Champion. Won Aussie Open while pregnant.

“Defending a slam is a bigger accomplishment than winning one. The girls just don’t know how to defend anymore”, wrote a fan who feels consistency is lacking among the current crop of tennis stars on the WTA circuit.

More Tennis news

Follow our dedicated Tennis page for instant Tennis news and updates

Sarbik Dutta

My heart races on the F1 track and tennis courts, translating the adrenaline of each moment into words. While F1's speed thrills and tennis's finesse captivate me, my passion doesn't stop there. As a devoted follower of cricket, football, and various Olympic sports, I find myself engulfed in the highs and lows of these games. Through my writing, I aim to share the stories behind the stats, the emotions fueling the victories, and the struggles that define the journey of athletes across diverse disciplines. Being a voice that echoes the fervor of these sports is a privilege I cherish every day.

Share
Published by