Serena Williams crashed out of the Miami Open in the first round here on Wednesday, slumping to a straight-set defeat against Japan's Naomi Osaka in the latest setback to the former world number one's comeback.
Osaka, who won her first major title in Indian Wells last weekend, was superior throughout and fully deserved her 6-3, 6-2 win in just one hour and 17 minutes.
It was Williams' fourth match and second tournament appearance since returning from 13 months maternity leave yet the American's movement and inability to stay in the rallies suggested her comeback could be more arduous than expected.
The defeat was the first time Williams has lost her first match at an American hard court championship for 21 years.