Serena Williams conqueror under fire in ugly Wimbledon controversy
Harmony Tan has been blasted by her doubles partner at Wimbledon after withdrawing following her shock singles win over Serena Williams on Tuesday.
Tan shocked the tennis world when she erased a 0-4 deficit in a third set super tiebreak to beat Williams in the first round at the All England Club.
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But the Frenchwoman has come under fire in the aftermath of the momentous victory after withdrawing from her scheduled doubles match on Wednesday with a thigh injury.
Tan was supposed to team with Tamara Korpatsch in the doubles at Wimbledon, but pulled the pin after her three-hour battle with Williams.
Her withdrawal hasn't gone down well with Korpatsch, who blasted her partner on social media for her 'unprofessional' decision.
It means Korpatsch is now out of the tournament as well.
“She just texted this morning. Let me wait here 1 hour before the match start,” Korpatsch wrote in an Instagram post.
"I’m very sad, disappointed and also very angry that I can’t play my 1st Doubles Grand Slam. And it’s really not fair for me ... I didn’t deserve that.
"She asked me before the tournament if we wanna play doubles and I said yes, I did'nt ask her, she asked me!
“If you’re broken after a 3 (hour) match the day before, you can’t play professional (tennis). That’s my opinion."
Tan and Korpatsch were scheduled to play 15th-seeded pair Nadiia Kichenok and Raluca Olaru on Wednesday.
They were replaced in the draw by Valentini Grammatikopoulou and Peangtarn Plipuech.
Tan is scheduled to play World No.32 Sara Sorribes Tormo in the second round of the singles after the Spanish player beat American qualifier Christina McHale 6-2 6-1.
The 24-year-old Tan is ranked 611th in doubles and has never played in that event at Wimbledon.
Korpatsch, a 27-year-old German who is ranked 298th in doubles, lost in the first round of the singles tournament but has never played a doubles match at any grand slam tournament.
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Speaking after her loss, Williams said she doesn't know what the future holds but the thought of playing at the US Open later this year still motivates her.
Williams lost 7-5 1-6 7-6 (10-7) to little-known Frenchwoman Tan, further depleting her chances of equalling Margaret Court's all-time grand slam singles record of 24 majors.
Turning 41 in three months, Williams hadn't played a singles match since injuring her hamstring at Wimbledon last year, only returning to doubles action earlier this month.
"It is definitely better than last year," Williams said about having to retire hurt in the opening round in 2021.
"It definitely makes me want to hit the practice courts because when you're playing not bad and you're so close. I feel like that it's 'OK, Serena, you can do this if you want.'
"I think physically I did pretty good. I feel like in just those key points, winning some of those points, is something mentally that you have to have. I did pretty good on maybe one or two of 'em, but obviously not enough."
Looking ahead to Flushing Meadows, Williams added: "When you're at home, especially in New York, and the US Open, that being the first place I've won a grand slam, is something that's always super special. Your first time is always special.
"There's definitely lots of motivation to get better and to play at home.
"I think if you're playing week in, week out, or even every three weeks, every four weeks, there's a little bit more match toughness.
"But today I gave all I could do. At some point you have to be able to be OK with that."
with agencies
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