In the most lopsided defeat of her career, Serena Williams' disappointing night back in the Bay Area ended in less than an hour as she lost her opening match of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic on Tuesday night to Johanna Konta, 6-1, 6-0.
When the 52-minute match ended on Williams' forehand into the net, the 23-time Grand Slam champion walked off the court offering waves to the crowd that will hope she returns to the Bay Area again next year for a longer run than this early exit.
Williams had never won only one game - she won her serve for the initial game Tuesday then not another. She got two games at the 2014 WTA finals in Singapore, falling 6-0, 6-2 to Simona Halep.
While Williams was encouraged by her movement, she hardly looked like herself on a cool summer evening. She double-faulted and landed drop shots in the net. She missed returns and sprayed her groundstrokes long and wide.
Konta, who captured her first WTA title two years ago at Stanford, got on a roll and didn't take a chance in letting Williams get back in it.
The sixth-seeded Williams is a three-time champion in the Bay Area. This marked the fifth tournament for the 36-year-old Williams since giving birth to her daughter, Alexis Olympia, last September. It's her first tournament since her straight-set Wimbledon loss to Angelique Kerber.
Stephens makes winning start
Washington: Reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens began the summer hardcourt campaign ahead of defending her Flushing Meadows crown by beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands 7-5, 6-4 Tuesday at the WTA and ATP Washington Open.
Third-ranked Stephens, who captured her first Grand Slam title last year in New York, booked a second-round match against Germany's Andrea Petkovic.
"I'm super excited about the hardcourt season again," 25-year-old Stephens said.
"I'm still young and still have so much more to go and look forward to."
Stephens, who won her first WTA title at Washington in 2015, fired her sixth ace on her first match-point chance to advance after one hour and 53 minutes.
"I knew I was in for a real test from the very beginning," Stephens said. "I knew I had to stay patient and be within myself."
Stephens became the top-rated player in the draw when world number two Caroline Wozniacki, the reigning Australian Open champion, withdrew due to a right leg injury.
Denmark's Wozniacki, who won her 29th career WTA title in June at Eastbourne, was ousted from Wimbledon in the second round and had a right leg issue in a Monday practice session.
"It's just something that has been nagging for a little while," Wozniacki said.
"Hopefully it will be fine." On the men's side, top-seeded defending champion Alexander Zverev of Germany was scheduled to open later against Malek Jaziri.
Third-ranked Zverev beat Jaziri in last year's third round at Washington but split two clay meetings with the 34-year-old Tunisian, who reached his first ATP final in May at Istanbul.
Zverev has never faced his brother Mischa, the 15th seed, in an ATP event but they could meet in a third-round match, with Mischa set to face US wildcard Tim Smyczek.
The only remaining women's top-five seed other than Stephens is Japan's 17th-ranked Naomi Osaka, the reigning Indian Wells champion who won her Washington debut match 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) over American Bernarda Pera.
Wozniacki withdraws
World number two Caroline Wozniacki, the reigning Australian Open champion, withdrew from the WTA Washington Open on Tuesday with a right leg injury, the tournament announced.
The 28-year-old Dane won her 29th career WTA title in June at Eastbourne but was ousted from Wimbledon in the second round.
Top seed Wozniacki said after practice Monday she had a right leg issue.
"It's just something that has been nagging for a little while," Wozniacki said. "Hopefully it will be fine."
Wawrinka ousted by qualifier
Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, struggling in his comeback from left knee surgery, was ousted by US qualifier Donald Young at the ATP and WTA Washington Open on Tuesday.
Young, ranked 234th, outlasted the 33-year-old Swiss 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/3) and advanced to a second-round match with Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori.
"It was a tough fight, a lot of nerves because he can hit any shot," Young said. "Stan at the top is totally different than when he's working his way back. I'm sure he'll be back. I won't want to play him when he's back."
Wawrinka, ranked 198th, fell to 6-11 this year after missing most of nine months before returning in May.
"It's painful to lose in the first round here, especially 7-6 in the third," Wawrinka said. "I was missing a lot for sure. It's tough when you haven't played a lot of matches. Tough loss for sure."