Serena Williams 'motivated' to carry on despite Wimbledon 2022 exit

Serena Williams of the United States waves to the crowd after losing against Harmony Tan of France during their first-round match on day two of Wimbledon at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2022 in London, England. Getty Images

Harmony Tan of France, right, shakes hands with Serena Williams at the end of the match. Getty Images

Harmony Tan celebrates after beating Serena Williams. Getty Images

Harmony Tan of France celebrates. Getty Images

Alexis Ohanian, husband of Serena Williams, watches his wife in Wimbledon action against Harmony Tan. Getty Images

Serena Williams of the United States reacts after losing against Harmony Tan of France at Wimbledon. Getty Images

Serena Williams of United States celebrates breaking serve against Harmony Tan of France. Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Serena Williams of United States celebrates a point against Harmony Tan of France during their Women's Singles First Round Match on day two of The Championships Wimbledon 2022 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill / Getty Images)

Serena Williams plays a forehand. Getty Images

Harmony Tan serves against Serena Williams. Getty Images

Serena Williams plays a forehand against Harmony Tan. Getty Images

Serena Williams holds her ankle in a change over against Harmony Tan. Getty Images

General view of Centre Court with the roof closed as Serena Williams serves against Harmony Tan. Getty Images

Serena Williams reacts after losing her first-round match against France's Harmony Tan. Reuters

France's Harmony Tan signs autographs as she leaves the court. AFP

France's Harmony Tan celebrates after beating Serena Williams of the US in a first round women's singles match on day two of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (AP Photo / Alberto Pezzali)

Serena Williams in action. Reuters

Serena Williams in action during her first round match against France's Harmony Tan. Reuters

Serena Williams celebrates winning a point against France's Harmony Tan. AFP

Serena Williams reacts as she plays against France's Harmony Tan. AFP

Serena Williams brushed off retirement talk following her Wimbledon exit, insisting she is "just playing for right now" and that she's "motivated" to play at the US Open later this year.

The American, 40, suffered just her third first-round loss at a Grand Slam on Tuesday, going down 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 to little-known Frenchwoman Harmony Tan.

Williams, who was returning to singles action for the first time in 12 months, said this was not the end of the road in her quest to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam.

"The US Open was the place where I won my first Slam, it's super-special. There's definitely a lot of motivation to get better and play at home," she said.

The 23-time major winner, who debuted at the All England Club in 1998, refused to speculate on whether or not she will be back at Wimbledon in 2023.

"I am just playing for right now. I see how I feel and go from there.

"Who knows where I will pop up."

Williams walked onto Centre Court for the evening match and quickly looked rusty. She was broken in her first service game.

Williams, far below her imperious best and apparently lacking fitness, bounced back, breaking in the fourth game to level at 2-2, buoyed by a supportive crowd.

The pair swapped further breaks but Tan, ranked 115th, broke again in the 11th game and held her nerve to close out the set 7-5.

Williams broke after a mammoth second game of the second set and went on to level the match 6-1.

The American was first to break in the decider but Tan levelled at 3-3.

Williams broke again in the ninth game, throwing her arms into the air in jubilation but faltered as she served for the match.

She faced a match point on her own serve in the 12th game but saved it with a forehand volley, taking the contest into a third-set tie-break.

Williams stepped up a gear, winning the first four points as the match, under the Wimbledon roof, ticked past three hours.

But still her French opponent was not down and out, winning the next five points to edge ahead.

Williams, looking out of breath, could not find inspiration, netting when facing a second match point.

She finished with 61 winners but 54 unforced errors in the 3-hour, 11-minute evening match.

"I'm so emotional now," said Tan. "She's a superstar. When I was young, I was watching her so many times on the TV.

"When I saw the draw, I was really scared. She's such a legend. I thought if I can win one game, two games, that would be really good for me."

Williams won the last of her seven Wimbledon singles titles six years ago but reached the final in 2018 and 2019.

The American, who was given a wildcard for this year's tournament, remains stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles titles - agonisingly one short of Margaret Court's all-time record.

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