Zimpapers Logo

KENTUCKY. — Serena Williams is excited to face sister Venus in the Lexington Open second round and feels the “tough match” will provide the perfect preparation for the US Open tennis tournament which starts on August 31.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion made a winning return to the WTA Tour on Tuesday but needed three sets to get past Bernarda Pera in Kentucky.

Williams, who before Tuesday had not played a competitive game since a Fed Cup appearance in February, came from behind to defeat American world number 60 Pera 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and 15 minutes at the Top Seed Tennis Club in Lexington.

It was the No. 1 seed’s first competitive fixture since a Fed Cup qualifier in February and she eventually got close to top gear to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

A straight sets victory later in the day for Venus Williams over Victoria Azarenka by a 6-3, 6-3 scoreline saw her book a last-16 meeting with her younger sister.

Serena Williams told a press conference: “I have a really tough match in the next round, but it is good in general because I haven’t played.

“A lot of players have been playing little things and little matches and playing against other players but I’ve only been training.

“This was really good for me, I was missing shots but I was like “oh, I should probably hit it that way” so it was trying to get back into the swing of things.” — AFP.