Serena Williams returns to winning ways, but not quite back with a bang
Serena Williams made a winning return to the WTA tour but needed three sets to get past Bernarda Pera at the Lexington Open.
The number one seed, who was last in competitive action at a Fed Cup qualifier in February, lost the first set in Kentucky.
Pera had two opportunities to earn a decisive break against the 23-time grand slam winner in the next set, but on both occasions Williams fought back and eventually levelled before she hit top gear to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The No.1 seed moves on! 😀@serenawilliams defeats Pera 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.#TSOpen pic.twitter.com/QrF1ibl0yF
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2020
“I wasn’t in a good rhythm and I just kept thinking Serena, play like you’ve been practising,” Williams told WTAtennis.com.
“I knew I could play a little bit better if I just hung in there.”
Williams will face sister Venus Williams and is using this tournament as preparation for the US Open, which begins on August 31.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official.
Latest
-
OlympicsAlexander Zverev euphoric after claiming Olympic gold, saying, ‘this is an incredible feeling’
“There is nothing better than this,” says Alexander Zverev.
-
OlympicsAlexander Zverev brushes aside Karen Khachanov to secure historic gold for Germany in men’s tennis at Olympics
Gold for Alexander Zverev at Tokyo Olympics.
-
ATP Tour‘I am shaking all over my body,’ says Casper Ruud after completing unique hat-trick with Kitzbuhel title
It’s a hat-trick of titles for Casper Ruud.
-
Olympics‘It’s the freaking Olympic Games’ – Belinda Bencic not sure whether to laugh or cry after winning gold
Belinda Bencic in dreamland after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
-
Kevin PalmerComment: Novak Djokovic under fire after controversial final stand at Tokyo Olympics
Novak Djokovic walked away from the Tokyo Olympics without even a bronze medal to soothe his wounded pride.
-
OlympicsOlympic glory for Belinda Bencic as she holds off Marketa Vondrousova in Tokyo gold medal match
Belinda Bencic is the Tokyo Olympics singles champion.
-
OlympicsWATCH: Novak Djokovic hurls racket into stands and admits ‘it’s not nice but it’s part of who I am’
“It was an emotional outburst and it happens,” said Novak Djokovic.
-
OlympicsNovak Djokovic rues missed chances at Tokyo Olympics, but vows to ‘try to to keep going’ for Paris Games
“I didn’t deliver yesterday and today, the level of tennis dropped,” admits Novak Djokovic.
-
OlympicsPablo Carreno Busta wins Tokyo Olympics bronze as he denies Novak Djokovic a medal in the singles
Pablo Carreno Busta is your bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics.
-
ATP TourWashington Open draw: Rafael Nadal, Cameron Norrie, Nick Kyrgios in same half as young stars headline bottom half
This way for your 2021 Washington Open draw.