PARIS -- Aleksandra Wozniak's dream run at the French Open ended Monday with a humbling loss to second-seeded American Serena Williams.
The 21-year-old native of Blainville, Que., the first Canadian woman in 17 years to make the fourth round at Roland Garros, lost 6-1, 6-2 in just 53 minutes.
Playing on the tournament's showcase stadium, against one of the biggest names in women's tennis, Wozniak admitted her nerves may have got the best of her.
"You really want to win badly and there's so many things going on," said Wozniak. "It was my first time on Philippe Chatrier court. Emotions get involved and you just get tight and you can't play really your game, so it's tough."
In the pair's only other meeting last summer, Williams withdrew in her Stanford semifinal with Wozniak due to an injury. Wozniak won the first title of her career a day later.
The clay of Roland Garros was a different story for the 24th-seeded Canadian, who converted the only break point she earned in the sixth game of the second set. But seeded Williams quickly got it back in the next game.
"My most focused match so far," said Williams, who stretched her Grand Slam winning streak to 18 matches.
Wozniak managed to save a match point in the final game before pushing a forehand into the net to end the best Grand Slam performance of her career.
"I have memories when I was little girl, and I was watching Monica Seles playing on TV," said Wozniak. "I said I would love to play on that court one day. But today I was tight and couldn't play my game. I was also playing a really big champion."
Despite the loss, Wozniak said it was a dream to play on one of the sport's biggest stages.
"This court is amazing, the crowd and the way you hear everything," she said. "It's a dream come true where I am right now, and I've just got to enjoy it and keep playing. It was a special moment in my life."
The Canadian finished the match with nine winners and 13 unforced errors, losing serve five times. Williams committed only eight unforced errors while totalling 25 winners to nine for Wozniak.
She leaves Roland Garros with a 5-3 career record and is 12-12 overall this season.
She was the first Canadian woman to play the Roland Garros fourth round since Patricia Hy-Boulais in 1992, and said she felt a certain sense of history when she walked on the court.
"I definitely carry Canada on my shoulder with a big smile on my face and I definitely want to make everyone proud and keep reaching for new heights," she said.
Helen Kelesi's 1989 quarter-final for Canada in Paris remains the record to beat.
Wozniak will remain in Paris a few days "playing the tourist" before stepping onto grass next week in Birmingham to begin her Wimbledon preparation.
Williams will next play No. 7-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian, winner of the 2004 U.S. Open, advanced by beating No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.
The American is seeking her 11th major title and third in a row. She won last year's U.S. Open and the Australian Open in January.
"I feel like I have nothing to lose," Williams said. "This is when everything counts, you know. I have to pick up my level and play again a really good, strong match, especially playing somebody like Svetlana who is a great clay-court player and who moves extremely well and doesn't do anything bad."
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With files from The Associated Press