Zimpapers Logo

PARIS. — Even the Parisian stormclouds cleared for Serena Williams yesterday, as the new mother’s baby steps back to Grand Slam tennis became a stride into the second round of the French Open. Krystina Pliskova, who shared the Wimbledon winners’ stage with Serena back in 2010 – the Czech was junior champion as Serena won the real thing that year, played her part across the net on centre court, but there was only one star.

Dressed in a skintight, all-in-one black bodysuit, broken up by a vivid scarlet belt, Serena captivated the French crowd from the start of the contest to its 7-6(4) 6-4 conclusion.

“Two years has been a really long time,” she told the crowd in French, referring to her last match on clay. “I am just so happy to have won a match here… thank you all.”

The last time the American had appeared in a Grand Slam tournament was at the Australian Open in 2017, when she won it while pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia.

This time there was a little rust to shake off – she only gave birth in September – and she didn’t quite move as when at her best. But all the same Serena was too strong, too good, simply too Serena for her world 70-ranked opponent. — SuperSport