After a decade on the WTA tour, Madison Brengle pulled off her first Top 3 victory by winning a thrilling three-setter against top seed Serena Williams in the second round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The world No.72 Brengle won five of the last six games in the first set, erasing her initial deficit. In the second set, the 22-time Grand Slam champion Williams needed as many as six set points and a tiebreak to force the decider. The third set went with serve until 5-4, when Brengle broke her fellow American to win the match 6-4 6-7(3) 6-4.
Wind played a big role in this match and here’s how Serena expressed her frustration with it, not skipping to acknowledge that her opponent played under the same circumstances:
She obviously did a much better job than I did. I really abhorred the conditions. I don’t think I’ve ever hit 88 errors in my career; I could google that and that’s probably accurate. So there’s no need to look back on such a crappy game!
Just like at the 2016 US Open, Serena sported arm sleeves and the Nike Fall Serena Premier Dress, which I call the Circus Dress, because the skirt reminds me of a circus tent. The legend’s footwear of choice were these Nike Flare shoes in purple/silver/rose gold.
Samantha Crawford congratulated her friend Madison on Twitter:
My bestie is adorbs ? https://t.co/Tp07H4n4Pr
— Samantha 黛莲 Crawford (@samcrawford18) January 4, 2017
Serena’s sister also had an unfortunate ending to her Auckland campaign. The second-seeded Venus Williams won her first-round match against Jade Lewis 7-6(2) 6-2 and was supposed to play her second match of the day against Naomi Osaka, but pulled out of the tournament citing a right arm injury.
Jimmie48’s Wednesday’s photos are coming up, but will be a bit late this time, since he’s now flying to Australia, where he will hopefully shoot the Apia International Sydney (we’re still waiting for the credentials).
I think Serena did not play her best today. She’s a bit sluggish and Madison took advantage of that chance.
The usual. Petulant brat Serena graceless in defeat
The usual. Petty, hypocritical Serena hater.