Lexington Open: Serena Williams in shock defeat to Shelby Rogers

Serena Williams suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Shelby Rogers who is currently ranked world No 116 at the Lexington Open on Friday.

Rogers came from a set down and took six of the last eight points after trailing 3-1 in the tie-breaker to beat Williams 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) in their rain-delayed match to reach the semi-finals.

Williams has been treading on a thin line as she had survived two scares already in the tournament. She outclassed Bernarda Pera despite her lack of intensity and came from a set down to beat her sister Venus in the previous round to reach the quarter-finals but could not do the same against her fellow American.

It was Williams’ first loss since 2012 to a player outside the WTA’s top 100 since Virginie Razzano at 2012 Roland Garros. She admits she has more to give and takes away from the defeat the fact she can improve her game.

Williams says: “I have only good things to take, I can play a lot better, that’s the big thing I can take. So it’s good, it’s good to know I can play a lot lot better.”

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It was Williams and Rogers’s first-ever meeting with Rogers earning three break points – each one a set point – and went on to convert the third when Williams dumped a forehand into the net.

There were no breaks in the third set as Williams defeated herself following a host of back-to-back misses, including a long backhand to end it, despite taking the early lead in the tie-breaker

Rogers will face Jil Teichmann after the Swiss required seven match points to defeat CiCi Bellis 6-2 6-4 for a place in the final.

“It’s every kid’s dream to be able to do something like that,” Rogers says.

“Weird circumstances. Weird situation. But a win is a win.”

Jennifer Brady, however, qualified for her second semi-final of the season following a straight-sets 6-1 6-2 win over Marie Bouzkova.

This hard-court event in Kentucky is a tune-up ahead of the US Open which starts August 31 in New York.

Simona Halep also cruised through to the semi-finals of the Prague Open with a straight-sets defeat of Magdalena Frech.

The top seed was playing her first tournament since the season resumed won against Frech 6-2 6-0 in less than an hour.

Elise Mertens secured her place into her first semi-final of the year beating Eugenie Bouchard in a three-set duel, 6-4 1-6 6-4, and will take on Kristyna Pliskova.