Serena Williams has blocked Harmony Tan, the Frenchwoman who defeated her at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, on Instagram. The block occurred after their match on June 28, 2022.
What happened?
Harmony Tan, ranked 200th in the WTA rankings, caused a massive upset by winning 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7) against Serena Williams in the first round at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.
Why it matters for Serena Williams
The match was Williams' last at the All England Club before her return to women's singles at the 2026 Championships. Williams accepted a wildcard to compete at the 2026 Championships and will face Maya Joint in the first round.
What comes next?
Tan, who has won 20 of her 32 matches this year, expressed her desire to face Williams once again on the big stage. Williams will also compete in women's doubles alongside her sister Venus Williams at the 2026 Championships.
Serena Williams announced she was 'evolving away' from tennis after the 2022 US Open but made a spectacular comeback in women's doubles earlier this month. Her return to women's singles at the 2026 Championships has generated significant buzz among tennis fans.
Tan revealed the block on her Instagram story, writing 'So 4 years ago after the handshake, she blocked me also on Instagram, btw' along with laughing emojis. The claim instantly created a buzz among tennis fans on social media.
Williams' return to women's singles at the 2026 Championships is her first singles competition since the 2022 US Open. She will face Maya Joint, who is 24 years her junior, in the first round.
The 23-time singles Grand Slam champion has won 13 ITF titles and reached the fourth round at SW19 before losing to Amanda Anisimova in straight sets. Her best showing at the Grand Slam level remains her fourth-round run at Wimbledon in 2022.
Tan has won 13 ITF titles but failed to make the main draw of Wimbledon, losing to Tyra Caterina Grant in the final round of qualifying. She has expressed her desire to qualify and face Williams once again on the big stage.
The match between Williams and Tan lasted more than 3 hours, with Tan deciding to withdraw from the women's doubles event. Her partner, Tamara Korpatsch, expressed frustration at missing out on competing at Wimbledon.
Williams' sister, Venus Williams, will compete alongside her in women's doubles at the 2026 Championships. The Williams sisters are known for their dominance in women's tennis and their return to competition has generated significant interest among fans.
The 2026 Championships will be an exciting tournament, with Williams' return to women's singles generating significant buzz. Fans will be eager to see how she performs against Maya Joint in the first round.
Tan's claim about being blocked by Williams on Instagram has added to the excitement surrounding the tournament. The Frenchwoman's desire to face Williams once again on the big stage has also generated interest among fans.
The tournament will be a great opportunity for Williams to showcase her skills and compete against the best players in the world. Her return to women's singles at the 2026 Championships is a significant moment in her career and one that fans will be eager to watch.