MADRID — Serena Williams had not lost a match all year until she ran into Petra Kvitova at the Madrid Open on Friday.
No wonder, after being thoroughly beaten by the Czech player in the semifinals, she didn't feel quite like herself.
"I wasn't Serena today," the top-ranked American said after a 6-2, 6-3 loss ended her 27-match WTA tour win streak dating back to 2014. "I'm just exhausted today."
It was Kvitova's first win over Williams in six career meetings, but she dominated throughout with her powerful groundstrokes and broke the American six times.
"I had never beaten her, so it's a really special moment for me," the two-time Wimbledon champion said.