Making her tennis comeback after becoming a mom for the first time, Serena Williams beat Zarina Diyas in straight sets in the first round in Indian Wells.
Williams overcame Diyas 7-5 6-3 in the California desert on Thursday in her first competitive singles match since winning the 2017 Australian Open 14 months ago.
Her thoughts then quickly turned to daughter Alexis.
“It’s been over a year and a kid later,” Williams told the crowd. “I get to go home now to her so I’m excited about that. Thank you guys so much for supporting me.”
Serena roars in soaring return.
“It was incredible. It’s been over a year and a kid later and I get to go home now to her, so I’m excited about that.”
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Williams improved to 3-0 against the 53rd-ranked Diyas. Her big serve wasn’t broken in the first set but Diyas did break twice in the second, although Williams claimed the final three games of the night contest to set up a duel against 29th seed Kiki Bertens in a repeat of the 2016 French Open semifinals.
“It definitely wasn’t easy,” said Williams. “I’ve played her several times before and we always have a couple of tight sets. But it was good. I’m a little rusty.
“But it doesn’t matter. I’m just out here on this journey doing the best I can.”
It has been quite the journey. The American claimed her record 23rd grand slam title in Melbourne in the early stages of pregnancy and didn’t play again for the rest of 2017.
Source: CNN
