Australian Open: Serena Williams crashes out in third round in a 'shocker'

Serena Williams' dream for a record equalling 24th Grand Slam was shattered after a stunning defeat by China's Wang Qiang. 

World No 27 beat seven-times Australian Open champion 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5 in the third round of the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 

Williams and Wang Qiang have just met once before in the US Open 2019 quarter-finals where Serena handed a crushing defeat to Wang by beating her 6-1, 6-0.

Last time Williams won any Grand Slam was the Australian Open in 2017, she was a favourite contender for the cup this year too. 

Let's take look at the chronological events in Williams Grand Slam campaigns post 2017 win:

She entered the French Open in the year 2018, after giving birth to her baby. She was forced to pull out of fourth-round encounter against Maria Sharapova, following a pectoral injury. 

In Wimbledon 2018, Williams was beaten by Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-3 in the women's singles finals. 

In US Open 2018 she was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Japan's Naomi Osaka in the finals. 

Australian Open 2019,  she lost to Karolina Pliskova to crash out in the quarter-finals 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.

French Open 2019 similar upset in the third round 6-2, 7-5 by American Sofia Kenin,

Wimbledon 2019 she was thrashed 6-2, 6-2 in just 56 minutes in the final by Simona Halep.

In the US Open 2019,  Serena was beaten by World No 15 Bianca Andreescu 6-3, 7-5 in the finals.  

World No 8 was off to a bad start handing the first set to Wang Qiang, she fought hard in the second set and managed to secure a set win by edging past Wang Qiang.

Serena also won a 24-shot rally, after which she raised her arms in victory. 

The final set was pretty tense because both players held their places, but Wang managed to convert the match point in her favour during the American's service.