Serena Williams, who just one day earlier insisted that she is still the best player in the world despite falling from No. 1 in the rankings, lost 6-2 2-6 6-1 to Patty Schnyder in her first match at the Italian Open.

“We all know who the real No. 1 is,” Williams said Monday. “Quite frankly, I’m the best in the world.”

The match started at 11:15pm due to rain and did not finish until 1am local time and the atmosphere was a strange and subdued.

It was Patty who adapted to the late start the better, racing through the first set, 6-2. Serena was lethargic throughout the match and at times moved uncomfortably but she managed to race through the second set. Still that was not enough. Patty stole back the momentum in the decider, her crafty play and Serena's errors quickly formulating a 5-0 lead and finish it with 6-1.

This is just the second time in Serena's career that she lost three consecutive matches.


(photo/Getty Images)

Serena, who claims she's best in the world, loses third match in a row