Serena Williams bids a tearful farewell: “I’ll be back as a simple guest”

Serena Williamswho on Tuesday announced his imminent retirement from competitive sports, bid a tearful farewell in Toronto on Wednesday night after being eliminated from the Canadian Masters by Swiss Belinda Bencic.

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Williams, who turns 41 at the end of September and just returned to competition after more than a year off, Bencic defeated him in two sets, 6-2 and 6-4.

Bencic, world number 12, needed just 77 minutes to unseat the tennis player with the most Grand Slam titles in history, 23, and has won the Canadian tournament three times in the past.

The Swiss player, who will now face Garbiñe Muguruza in the next round of the Canadian tournament, he scored eight direct service points and won 84% of his first serves.

Using the serve as his main weapon, the Swiss controlled Williams with no problemwho in the entire game had only one chance to break his opponent’s serve, something he was unable to achieve.

For her part, Bencic broke Williams twice in the first set. In the second set, Williams settled more on the court and held off the Swiss until the seventh game, when Bencic again broke the American’s serve.

Once the match is over, Williams tearfully thanked the public for their support Canadian and said he wants to play better.

Williams made it clear that she was not good for goodbyes, as she pointed out in a letter published Tuesday in Vogue announcing her retirement from tennis.

“But goodbye to Toronto“The tennis player said to add that he always enjoys the Canadian city “on and off the court.”

“I will return as a simple guest. But otherwise, it has been extraordinary. I had a great game here and the wins were great.”