DEFENDING CHAMPION SERENA Williams was sensationally dumped out of the French Open today in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.
The American 17-time Grand Slam champion slumped to a shocking second round 6-2, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Spanish world number 35 Garbine Muguruza in just over an hour.
She becomes the earliest defending champion to exit the tournament since Russian Anastasia Myskina lost in the first round in 2005.
The women’s draw has been blown wide open as Williams joins second seed Li Na of China on the list of top casualties to crash out.
Any hopes of an third round clash between the Williams’ sisters went up in smoke earlier on Wednesday when Venus was knocked out by teenager Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
However the elimination of world number one Serena, who won a career best 11 titles last year including the French Open and the US Open sent a buzz of shock around the Roland Garros complex.
The 32-year-old was also eliminated in the first round in 2012, her earliest Grand Slam exit since 2008 when she could only reach the third round in Paris.
It was also the first time she had never reached the second week of a Grand Slam after coming into the tournament as top seed.
Her curse of failing to defend her title in Paris continues, the only one of the majors she is yet to successfully retain.
For the 20-year-old Muguruza, the win is the biggest of her young career as the Barcelona native took advantage of 29 unforced errors from Williams who hit only eight winners all match.
“I really didn’t expect that but I’m really happy,” she said.
“I had to be aggressive and I did it well. Serena is a great champion but today is a great day for me.”
