The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio is an experience that Venus Williams likely will want to forget very quickly.
Venus and her sister, Serena, had won gold in the women’s doubles tournament at three consecutive Olympics dating to 2000, but the Williams sisters stunningly lost in straight sets to Czech duo Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova, 6-3, 6-4, on Sunday.
What’s even more shocking is that Safarova and Strycova never had won an Olympic doubles match entering Sunday.
Venus and Serena entered the Olympics with an undefeated mark of 15-0 and were ranked No. 1 overall in the world after winning their 14th Grand Slam tournament as doubles partners at Wimbledon earlier this summer.
Making matters worse for Venus, her doubles loss came a day after she fell in an upset to Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkensduring in her first-round singles match.
Williams did not address reporters after the loss, but U.S. women’s tennis coach Mary Joe Fernandez said Venus was dealing with a stomach illness, dehydration and cramping throughout the weekend.
Williams can at least gain some solace cheering for Serena, who advanced to the second round of the singles tournament Sunday by beating Daria Gavrilova of Australia.
Thumbnail photo via Jeff Swinger/USA TODAY Sports Images
