Serena Williams left Wimbledon in the first round after losing to Harmony Tan

Serena Williams left the central court on Tuesday night, perhaps for the last time, after failing to hold back the tide of youth.

The American struggled to maintain her career at Wimbledon, but in the end could not face the challenge of a calm and courageous opponent in French Harmony Tan, who won 7-5 1-6 7-6 after more than three hours.

In the decisive super tiebreak, she recovered 0-4 and scored 10-7, while Williams tightened all the tendons in her aging frame.

The lowest-ranked woman in the 1204 tournament – a substitute with only her seven previous singles titles – eventually lost the fight to cover up the fact that she hadn’t played for a full twelve months.

As with most events in her career, it was never boring or predictable, the clash of styles illuminated a large old arena with Williams playing the lead role, as she has done so many times before.

It seemed as if the 23-time Grand Slam winner came to this fight armed with a baseball bat, on the stiletto of her opponent.

Even at 40, an American can summon wild power, and when she began her struggle, the blows were often accompanied by determined cries and moans that intensified them.

At a time when many of the top ten women were able to walk down Wimbledon High Street without fear of recognition, Williams maintained her own stellar quality.

As the 113th issue of the world, Parisian Tan could certainly walk the Champs Elysees without worries, but she has a wonderful game to look at that relates to another period.

It probably helps to be coached by the skillful Nathalie Tauziat, one of the less memorable Wimbledon finalists, from 1998.

Williams was shy about how much preparation she had before and arrived in Eastbourne last week.

One experienced coach who witnessed her first training session on the South Coast hoped that her hitting with the ball was so clean that she had to be in proper training for some time.

Perhaps that risk was less calculated – playing just two double games in Sussex before leaving for SW19 – than could be estimated.

The American stepped onto the pitch almost immediately after Rafael Nadal finished his interview on the pitch. The idea of ​​a 20-minute interval between matches lasted less than 48 hours this year – this is not the first time in history that the rules for Serena have changed.

Williams was initially like he was missing diesel, barely able to drive the first two races, then slowly shifted into gears and belts to reach full speed.

Tan’s tactics were clear. Take advantage of the opponent’s movement by skillfully using angles and slices, which has spread to one outstanding return winner.

His effect soon faded and Williams gradually turned the 0-2 deficit into a 4-2 lead, but he was unable to deliver decisive shots as the set looked for a takeover.

The crowd liked it, as old age gives the player an affection that would not be in her pomp.

The Frenchwoman creatively tortured her and although the American’s legs moved better, she couldn’t muster the consistency to prevent the match from crashing into a turn. This despite the fact that I succeeded at a speed of 118 km / h, which had memories back.

Tan hit the set with a stunning cross pass, which, as it turned out, sent them into the break because the roof had to be closed.

It was becoming clear that Williams ’endurance would be put to the test. The first set lasted 64 minutes, and the second game of the next lasted only 20 minutes and 30 points before the American finally got a chance for the seventh break.

Experience helps when it comes to the transition from daylight to spotlights, and the more courageous Williams began to take a walk after filming.

Time was running out and her landing of three of the first four serves was especially crucial. Suddenly her strength became too great, even for the skilful defense that was moving against her.

Tan took a six-minute break for the toilet before making a decision, a chance to gather his thoughts and Williams lost some momentum.

Williams had a chance to serve at 5-4 in the decision, but the always calm Tan cut her off wonderfully, making mistakes in the draw and taking her into a new super-tiebreak.