PARIS — Early on, Serena Williams knocked dirt from her shoes by angrily whacking them with her racket, as if punishing the clay that keeps tripping her up at the French Open.
The top-ranked Williams lost in the quarterfinals Wednesday, squandering a match point and losing to Australian spoiler Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 8-6.
The upset was the second in a row for the No. 7-seeded Stosur, and the third in as many days at Roland Garros. Stosur ended four-time champion Justine Henin's Roland Garros winning streak at 24 matches in the fourth round.
On the men's side Tuesday, top-ranked Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling.
DAY 10: Federer ousted by Soderling
PHOTO GALLERY: Top images from Roland Garros
Then Williams made her exit, with stretches of brilliant tennis by Stosur hastening the departure. The Australian, long regarded as a doubles specialist, used her forceful forehand to build a lead, winning 17 consecutive points during one stretch.
Williams mounted one of her patented comebacks, and as the tension built in an error-filled third set, she needed only one point in the 10th game for the victory.
Her forehand sailed an inch long.
Stosur then regained her early form. She hit consecutive cross-court winners to break for a 7-6 lead, then served out the victory, hitting service winners on the final three points.
It was Williams' first Grand Slam loss since her meltdown in the semifinals of the U.S. Open last September against Kim Clijsters. This time she directed any anger only at herself — and her shoes.
In rallies she often seemed hesitant, indecisive and on the defensive, pinned deep by Stosur's big forehand and slice backhands. Williams hit one backhand that barely reached the bottom of the net, took an awkward swing at an overhead and flubbed a forehand putaway in the forecourt.
Stosur, who is in the Roland Garros semifinals for the second year in a row, next faces Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals.
Jankovic defeated Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazahkstan 7-5, 6-4 to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros for the third time.
The fourth-seeded Jankovic rallied three times from a service break down in the second set on Wednesday and closed out the victory when Shvedova double-faulted.
Jankovic, a Serb, also reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2007 and 2008, then lost each time.
Shvedova was the first woman from Kazakhstan to ever play a Grand Slam quarterfinal and the only unseeded player among the quarterfinalists.
The top-ranked Williams lost in the quarterfinals Wednesday, squandering a match point and losing to Australian spoiler Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 8-6.
The upset was the second in a row for the No. 7-seeded Stosur, and the third in as many days at Roland Garros. Stosur ended four-time champion Justine Henin's Roland Garros winning streak at 24 matches in the fourth round.
On the men's side Tuesday, top-ranked Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling.
DAY 10: Federer ousted by Soderling
PHOTO GALLERY: Top images from Roland Garros
Then Williams made her exit, with stretches of brilliant tennis by Stosur hastening the departure. The Australian, long regarded as a doubles specialist, used her forceful forehand to build a lead, winning 17 consecutive points during one stretch.
Williams mounted one of her patented comebacks, and as the tension built in an error-filled third set, she needed only one point in the 10th game for the victory.
Her forehand sailed an inch long.
Stosur then regained her early form. She hit consecutive cross-court winners to break for a 7-6 lead, then served out the victory, hitting service winners on the final three points.
It was Williams' first Grand Slam loss since her meltdown in the semifinals of the U.S. Open last September against Kim Clijsters. This time she directed any anger only at herself — and her shoes.
In rallies she often seemed hesitant, indecisive and on the defensive, pinned deep by Stosur's big forehand and slice backhands. Williams hit one backhand that barely reached the bottom of the net, took an awkward swing at an overhead and flubbed a forehand putaway in the forecourt.
Stosur, who is in the Roland Garros semifinals for the second year in a row, next faces Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals.
Jankovic defeated Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazahkstan 7-5, 6-4 to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros for the third time.
The fourth-seeded Jankovic rallied three times from a service break down in the second set on Wednesday and closed out the victory when Shvedova double-faulted.
Jankovic, a Serb, also reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2007 and 2008, then lost each time.
Shvedova was the first woman from Kazakhstan to ever play a Grand Slam quarterfinal and the only unseeded player among the quarterfinalists.