She was a World No.12 who defeated Serena Williams in a Grand Slam but grew tired of tennis and retired at 32

Wang Qiang, a native of Tianjin, China, etched her name in tennis history as one of the few players to defeat Serena Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Ranked as high as No. 12 in the world, Wang reached the pinnacle of her career at the 2020 Australian Open, where she stunned Williams in a grueling third-round match. Despite her historic win and a career that included two WTA singles titles and ten additional victories outside the tour, Wang found the demands of the sport overwhelming, leading to her decision to retire.

Her crowning achievement came on the scorching courts of Melbourne, where she outlasted the 23-time Grand Slam champion in a dramatic 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 victory. The loss marked Williams’ earliest exit at the Australian Open in over 14 years. Though Wang’s historic feat cemented her legacy, she was eliminated in the fourth round, unable to continue her remarkable run.

While many athletes might cherish such a career-defining victory, Wang later revealed that her triumph over Serena brought more sorrow than joy. The weight of expectations and the relentless grind of professional tennis took a toll on her, overshadowing the significance of her achievement.

Qiang Wang shakes hands with Serena Williams after their third round match of the 2020 Australian Open. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Qiang’s retirement after US Open loss

By 2024, Wang attempted to reignite her career at the US Open but fell in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5. The defeat marked the end of her professional journey, as she announced her retirement shortly after at the age of 32.

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According to the WTA, Wang cited mental exhaustion as the primary reason for stepping away, stemming from the constant travel, jet lag, and time away from her family. “I hadn’t been back to China in a long time,” Wang admitted. “I couldn’t stand it mentally. It was just too hard”. Wang also shared why she hadn’t retired earlier. “When I was younger, I didn’t think too much. Everyone around me pushed me to keep going”.

Embracing life after tennis

Now retired, Wang has found peace in her new life, free from the rigors of professional competition. Speaking about her current situation, she said: “My body has recovered and relaxed. I’ve been able to spend quality time with my family, something I couldn’t do for many years. This life isn’t bad for me”.

Although her time on the court has come to an end, Wang Qiang’s legacy as one of the few to topple Serena Williams will remain a shining moment in tennis history.