PARIS – Serena Williams turns 40 in September. Roger Federer hits that milestone the month before. No one knows how many more French Open appearances each will make, and this year’s tournament ended for both on Sunday.
Williams fell way behind and could not put together a comeback against a much younger and less experienced opponent in the fourth round at Roland Garros, losing 6-3, 7-5 to Elena Rybakina – who wasn’t even born when the American made her debut at the clay court major tournament in 1998.
Asked whether that might have been her last match at any French Open, Williams responded: “Yeah, I’m definitely not thinking about it at all. I’m definitely thinking just about other things, but not about that.”
Her defeat came hours after Federer withdrew, saying he needed to let his body recover ahead of Wimbledon after a long third-round victory that ended at nearly 1 a.m. Sunday. It’s the first time the Swiss great has pulled out of a Grand Slam once he started competing in it.
Wimbledon – which Federer has won eight times and Williams seven – begins June 28.