Williams sisters stunned in Rio

The duo of Serena and Venus Williams were shown the exit door in tennis doubles event at the Rio 2016 Olympics early on Mondaymorning.

The American sisters won the women’s doubles event at the 2000, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and were unbeaten after 16 matches at the Games, but their winning streak was snapped when they lost 6-3, 6-4 to the Czech pair of Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova in the opening round in Rio.

Serena, who is still in the singles competition after winning her singles tie earlier on Sunday, was disappointed not to be able to clear the first hurdle and admitted that she and Venus were outplayed.

“It was a really tough match for us and a really tough draw, but we’re used to tough draws,” she told reporters. “We honestly didn’t play our best whatsoever tonight. We played terrible and that basically showed in the results.

“I don’t know why. I wasn’t playing the way I needed to play, I wasn’t crossing the way I needed to cross, it was what it was.

“I wouldn’t say it’s devastating. We have a chance to compete for our country, we did the best that we can.

“It was a lot of fun and we will always remember these moments and these matches and at the end of the day I think that’s what matters most.”

Meanwhile, in the women’s singles, it was smooth sailing for all the big names as reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber, Roland Garros champion Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova, Caroline Wozniacki and Japan’s Misaki Doi all made it through to the second round.