What subsequent for Serena Williams after her gutsy, first-round exit at Wimbledon?

On the finish, it was Tan who crashed Williams' comeback social gathering, on a number of events producing pictures that even earned applause from her opponent on the opposite aspect of the web.

"For my first Wimbledon -- it is wow. Simply wow," Tan, misplaced for phrases, stated in her on-court interview.

Few in attendance may disagree.

As for Williams, who turned 40 final September, she is refusing to surrender on her pursuit of a record-equaling twenty fourth grand slam title, 5 years after she claimed her final on the Australian Open.

"Who is aware of the place I am going to pop up," she advised reporters when requested about her future, even suggesting that an look on the US Open could possibly be on the playing cards later this 12 months.

"The US Open -- that being the primary place I've received a grand slam -- is one thing that is at all times tremendous particular," Williams added. "Your first time is at all times particular. There's undoubtedly numerous motivation to get higher and to play at house."

Rustiness was to be anticipated throughout Williams' return at Wimbledon and it took her time to seek out some sense of rhythm towards Tan. Previous to Tuesday, her solely aggressive outing over the previous 12 months had been two doubles matches at Eastbourne final week.

She was damaged within the first recreation, however by the fourth had began to seek out her ft -- placing her floor strokes extra cleanly as she hit again with a double break of Tan's serve.

The primary set, nevertheless, proved to be indicative of the match as a complete: simply as Williams appeared to have the higher hand over her opponent, Tan would claw her manner again into competition.

That was the case on a number of events within the ultimate set as Williams twice led by a break, then raced into an early lead within the deciding tremendous tie break, just for Tan to win 10 of the following 13 factors and declare the most important win of her profession.

Tuesday's match was a transparent distinction in kinds. Williams' attacking show was hit-and-miss as she landed 61 winners -- a mixture of thumping floor strokes and sweetly-struck drive volleys -- interspersed with 54 unforced errors.

Tan, then again, was extra conservative and relied closely on her slice to maneuver Williams across the courtroom -- a tactic the American later admitted had taken her abruptly.

"I believe I may have performed any particular person, [it] most likely would have had a special outcome," she stated. "I knew going into it there was a number of slice, however not a lot on the forehand. I undoubtedly needed to attempt to discover my rhythm on the market. You already know, hindsight is 20/20."

The optimistic for Williams, who retired towards Aliaksandra Sasnovich within the first spherical of final 12 months's Wimbledon after slipping and injuring her leg, was that her physique held up properly towards Tan.

"Bodily I used to be positive," she added. "Final couple factors I actually began to really feel it. However I am transferring properly, I am getting a number of balls again. I am transferring properly in apply.

"That wasn't stunning for me as a result of I knew I used to be doing that properly. I did not apply for, you realize, a three-hour match. I suppose that is the place I went mistaken."

Forward of Wimbledon, Williams mirrored on how tennis is now not her sole focus in life. Off the courtroom, motherhood, her enterprise firm, and the discharge of the film King Richard, which she helped to provide, have all occupied her time.

"It has been completely completely different, truthfully. Part of me appears like that may be a little bit extra of my life now than tournaments," she stated final week.

However that is to not say Williams is completely able to say goodbye to tennis -- even when she stays undecided about when and the place her subsequent look might be.

And if something, the defeat towards Tan has made the tennis fires burn that little bit brighter.

"It undoubtedly makes me wish to hit the apply courts," she stated, "as a result of while you're enjoying not unhealthy and also you're so shut ... it is really type of like, 'Okay, Serena, you are able to do this if you need.'"