Emma Raducanu wins the first round in straight sets, ending Serena Williams' brief stay in Cincinnati.

The 2021 US Open champion received a standing ovation from the audience shortly after losing, and her opponent complimented her on the court after the match.

Serena should be honored for her incredible career, Raducanu stated. "I'm really appreciative of the opportunity to portray her and the fact that our careers coincided. She has accomplished so much, and it is all very inspiring. Sharing the court with her was a great honor."

Williams, on the other hand, appeared to reject the on-court interviewer as she hurriedly packed her luggage and left the court right after the match, waving and grinning to the spectators along the way. The microphone was subsequently taken down from the court, which had been placed on the side of the net opposite Raducanu's interview.

Williams has had a difficult week. In a first-person article for Vogue that was published last Tuesday, the 40-year-old shared her wish to have another child and stated she would shortly be quitting tennis.

Williams, who holds 23 major titles—the most of any player in the Open Era—has acknowledged having conflicting emotions about retiring; she even chose to refer to her upcoming chapter as a "evolution."

Williams penned, "There is no delight in this issue for me. "I know it's unusual for me to say this, but I'm in a lot of pain. It's the most difficult thing I can fathom. I abhor it.

"I detest having to stand at this decision-making point. I keep telling myself that I want things could be simple for me, but they aren't. I can't wait for it to be over, but I'm also eager for what comes after.

Following her disclosure, Williams' second-round loss at the Canadian Open, which was celebrated with an on-court celebration and record-breaking ticket sales at the Western & Southern Open and US Open, attracted a lot of attention. Hundreds of spectators crowded around to get a peek of Williams during his afternoon practice on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the 11,435-seat Center Court was nearly full, and Williams was supported up to the very last point with cheers and visual placards. Four-time major winner Naomi Osaka, who lost earlier in the day, was present together with her family, including Olympia, her four-year-old daughter.

In her first career matchup with Raducanu, 19, Williams battled early on and fell behind 4-1 before coming back to win three of the following four games. However, Raducanu, who will next play two-time major winner Victoria Azarenka, controlled the second set and won it in 65 minutes.

In her post-game press conference, Raducanu commented, "I think that the crowd was quite energetic." The stadium was very full. I was ready for that, even if they were supporting Serena.

"I thought it would be a tremendous opportunity to compete against the best in her own nation in a venue like that, and I was all for it. You know, if she's perhaps going to cease playing soon, go ahead and applaud for her."

Williams is anticipated to compete in her farewell match at the US Open, which starts on August 29 in New York. She has won the competition six times, and in her most recent outing in 2020, she advanced to the semifinals. 2018 and 2019 saw her advance to the final.