Serena Shocked by Cepelova in Charleston

April 2, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Serena Williams’ quest for a third consecutive Family Circle Cup title was shattered Tuesday night in Charleston, S.C. as the world number one fell 4-6, 4-6 to Jana Cepelova, ranked 78th in the world. This past Saturday, Serena won the Sony Open Tennis in Miami.

"Obviously things didn't go great out there, but she was a great counterpuncher today and hit a lot of balls back," Serena said. "I really knew nothing about her game going into the match, so she played a really good match against me today. And it just wasn't my day—it just wasn't meant to be today."

Cepelova had never beaten a top 15 player before.

Another upset occurred when Teliana Pereira outlasted the number eight seed Sorana Cirstea, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(0).

Serena’s sister Venus rebounded from second set troubles to defeat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova , 6-3, 0-6, 7-5. Venus won the Family Circle Cup 10 years ago in 20014.

"She raised the level of her game, and we had some close games, and then she just got the better of me and played really well," said Venus of her opponent. "I just kept fighting till the end. I've actually been pretty sick lately, so it was a little rough out there today. But circumstances like that you really just have to play your way into the tournament and just continue to feel better."

Also advancing were the number six seed, Eugenie Bouchard, a 6-2, 6-0 winner over Russian qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva; the seventh-seeded Sam Stosur, a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 winner over Yaroslava Shvedova; and the number nine seed, Lucie Safarova, who rallied from 3-1 down in the third to beat Virginie Razzano, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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