The former world primary had not performed aggressive tennis since limping out of final 12 months’s first-round match at Wimbledon in tears because of a leg harm
The former world primary had not performed aggressive tennis since limping out of final 12 months’s first-round match at Wimbledon in tears because of a leg harm
Serena Williams made a profitable return to motion on the Eastbourne International on June 21 as she and associate Ons Jabeur got here from a set all the way down to beat Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova 2-6 6-3 (13-11) within the ladies’s doubles.
The former world primary had not performed aggressive tennis since limping out of final 12 months’s first-round match at Wimbledon – the place she has gained seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles – in tears because of a leg harm.
Back on court docket and on the grass once more, Williams stepped up preparations for Wimbledon, the place the primary draw begins subsequent Monday, having been granted a wildcard to enter, alongside Tunisian Jabeur within the opening spherical at Eastbourne.
Looking rusty with some free early photographs, 40-year-old Williams, who has slipped to 1204th within the singles rankings, noticed her serve damaged within the fourth sport and there was no means again as Spaniard Sorribes Tormo and her Czech associate took the opening set.
Williams, who was sporting black tape on her face to assist with a sinus drawback, had no reply as Sorribes and Bouzkova made three successive breaks initially of the second to assist put them in a commanding place.
However, a ferocious volley from Williams helped her and Jabeur maintain serve to make it 4-3, earlier than the American confirmed additional indicators she was beginning to discover her rhythm with a booming forehand down the road to interrupt their opponents’ serve.
Williams served out the subsequent sport to take the match to a remaining set tiebreak, which swung this manner and that, with each pairings having match factors earlier than Sorribes Tormo missed a volley on the internet to present her opponents victory.
“It was so fun to play with Ons,” Williams mentioned. “We had fun.
“I caught some fireplace behind me! I wanted that. It was good. We’re simply taking it in the future at a time.”
Earlier at Eastbourne, British quantity 4 Katie Boulter stormed to one of many greatest wins of her profession with a 1-6 6-4 6-4 win over 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Pliskova, whereas Jodie Burrage accomplished a day to recollect for Britain by beating world quantity 4 Paula Badosa 6-4 6-3.
Source: www.thehindu.com
