DOWN AND OUT OF MIAMI OPEN: Serena Williams’ bid for ninth title flops after fourth round loss

Serena Williams does the splits after returning a shot to Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, in a final at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. Azarenka won 6-4, 6-4. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Serena Williams’ bid for a ninth Miami Open title came to a shock end when the world number one was beaten 6-7(3) 6-1 6-2 in the fourth round by 15th-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The loss on the Miami hardcourts was the first since 2012 for William, who had swept the last three titles in her unofficial home tournament.