Venus Williams’ campaign at Wimbledon has come to an end after she and Jamie Murray lost a thriller at The Championships.
In a thriller that lasted two hours and 15 minutes, Williams and Murray fell just short as Great Britain’s Alicia Barnett and Jonny O’Mara handed them a 3-6 6-4 7-6 (16) loss.
After saving three break points earlier in the first set, Williams and Murray earned the first break of the match in the eighth game to open a 5-3 lead.
In the ninth game, Williams and Murray routinely served out for the first set as they realized their first set point.
After winning the first set, Williams and Murray earned the first break of the second set in the fifth game and served out the following game to take a 4-2 lead.
Just when it seemed Barnett and O’Mara were done, they claimed back-to-back breaks to win four games in a row and send the match into a decider.
Williams and Murray blew five match points
Williams and Murray started the third set with a break but Barnett and O’Mara managed to get the break back in the eighth game and the third set eventually went into a tie-break.
In the tie-break, Williams and Murray missed out on five match points before Barnett and O’Mara realized their fifth match point to complete a big comeback win.
Williams, 42, was playing her first tournament since 2021 August.
When Williams arrived to Wimbledon, she had no intention of competing at the tournament.
However, after spending some time at The All England Club, Williams got inspired and asked Murray if he was interested in playing mixed doubles.
“I had no plan to play. I saw the grass and I got excited (smiling). I was even at the French, I had to work, but I wasn’t there – I was at the French Open, it’s a beautiful event, but my heart didn’t beat the same way. Not that I could play but,” Williams said. “I had no plans. That’s why I was asking him last minute.”