Reported by:| Edited by: |Source: Reuters |Updated: June 22, 2022, 06:40 IST
Serena Williams, who had not played competitive tennis since limping out of last year’s first round match at Wimbledon, made a winning comeback at Eastbourne International on Tuesday. She and partner Ons Jabeur came out of a set down to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova 2-6 6-3 (13-11) in women’s doubles.
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The former world number one was out of action after injuring his leg. Now back on the court and on the grass again, Williams has stepped up preparations for Wimbledon, where the main draw begins next Monday, after securing a wildcard to enter alongside Tunisia’s Jabeur in the first round at Eastbourne.
Looking rusty with a few loose opening shots, Williams, 40, who slipped to 1,204th in the singles standings, had her serve broken in the fourth game and there was no turning back as the Spaniard Sorribes Tormo and her Czech partner took the opening. Position.
Well that was great fun
@SerenaWilliams and @Ons_Jabeur claim victory in a decisive match, 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 to progress to Eastbourne!#RothesayInternational pic.twitter.com/mHBn25btRD– wta (@WTA) June 21, 2022
Williams, who sported black duct tape over his face to help with a sinus problem, had no response as Sorribes and Bouzkova took three successive breaks at the start of the second to help them get into position dominant.
However, a ferocious volley from Williams helped her and Jabeur hold serve to make it 4-3, before the American showed further signs she was starting to find her groove with a kick booming right to break their opponents’ serve.
Williams served the following game to take the game to a final tiebreak, which swung this way and that, with both pairs having match points before Sorribes Tormo missed a volley at the net to hand the victory to his opponents .
Seeing the winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles return to action made netizens nostalgic as they enjoyed the return of the Williams.
Serena Williams is 40 and still takes the girls to school. We love to see it — Ashlee Woods (@ashleemwoods) June 21, 2022
When you’re a certain type of player, the fire stays on no matter what. Rising to the occasion becomes a natural thing. — stephen futado (@sfutado) June 22, 2022
About as pretty as one – Fuc Yu (@FucYu43122124) June 22, 2022
Thanks @SerenaWilliams for today. It’s wonderful to see you back on the court! —Catherine Pedota (@cjp1955) June 22, 2022
“It was so much fun playing with Ons,” Williams said. “We had fun.
“I took fire behind me! I needed it. It was good. We just take it one day at a time.”
Earlier in Eastbourne, Britain’s number four Katie Boulter scored one of the biggest wins of her career with a 1-6 6-4 6-4 victory over Wimbledon 2021 runner-up Karolina Pliskova, while Jodie Burrage ended a memorable day for Great Britain. beating world number four Paula Badosa 6-4 6-3.
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