The Australian Open champion thus conceded defeat to Jelena Jankovic, the unseeded Serbian by 6-0, 4-3 retired, and there were only a few moments, when Serena took two games in a row to lead 2-1 in the second set, when she looked capable of surviving.

The rest of the time a stunned crowd witnessed the world's hardest hitter attempt to contain and rally from the baseline, produce a cataract of errors and even attempt a few at drop shots in an effort to win points more quickly.

Williams was evidently in discomfort from the start and was soon fighting hard to control her frustration.

Several times she missed the court by yards, once she missed a smash by ten feet, and eventually, in the eighth game, she hammered her racket twice fiercely on the ground and shattered it.

"I don't remember smashing a racket," she said surreally. "I don't know who did that. That wasn't me who did that," she added, though it was just as true that it wasn't the real Serena Williams playing either.

The former winner of all four Grand Slam titles apparently came into the tournament with a shoulder problem, which worsened as the week went on, and gradually affected the rest of the arm.