For the third consecutive major, Serena Williams reached the final four. And for the third consecutive major, she failed to emerge victorious. It leaves the world No. 1 stuck at 21 Grand Slam singles titles, one behind Steffi Graf for most in the Open era. Turning—or, in Williams' case, winning—21 is an achievement worth celebrating. But this party has stretched on too long for Williams, who must surely be growing weary of that number.

Today's loss to fourth-seeded Garbine Muguruza at the French Open may have been the least surprising loss of the bunch. Playing her fourth match in four days due to relentless rain, Williams came into today's contest with some injury concerns, but it was the Spaniard's form that ultimately determined the result. In her 7-5, 6-4 victory, Muguruza was broken just twice despite hitting nine double faults (she broke Williams four times) and won 79 points to Williams' 69. Her forehand was a fantastic weapon, creating difficult angles for Williams to contend with while hitting through the slow clay surface.

Just as importantly, Muguruza believed she could win. Having already played Williams in a Grand Slam final—last year, at Wimbledon, site of the American's last major victory—surely helped her in this pressure-packed moment. She'd also previously beaten Williams at Roland Garros, in 2014.

Still, when Williams saved four match points and held for 5-4 in the second set, Muguruza had to be feeling some doubt. It took quite a point to finally end the final:

Advertising

From Spain with lob. Muguruza made good on her immense potential today in Paris, will rise to No. 2 in the WTA rankings tomorrow and, at just 22 years old, should be one of the tour's stars for years to come.

As for Williams, it's another rendezvous with Grand Slam heartbreak. Like Novak Djokovic, who has tried and tried and tried again to win the elusive French Open title, Williams must be wondering if Slam No. 22 is ever meant to be. At last year's U.S. Open, two wins away from a calendar-year Grand Slam, Williams and the sporting world were shocked by Roberta Vinci. The Italian struck quite a match point herself:

Advertising

Then, at this year's Australian Open, Angelique Kerber claimed her first Grand Slam title at Williams' expense. The German's championship-sealing point wasn't as pretty, but it was just as effective:

Advertising

Williams' next shot at No. 22—and Muguruza's shot at No. 2—will come at Wimbledon, in just a few weeks. After this French fortnight, no one would be surprised to see them meet, once again, on the final weekend.