EASTBOURNE, England (Reuters) – Serena Williams made a winning return to motion on the Eastbourne International on Tuesday as she and accomplice 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) in the ladies’s doubles.
The former world primary had not performed aggressive tennis since limping out of final year’s first-round match at Wimbledon — the place she has gained seven of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles — in tears resulting from a leg damage.
Back on courtroom 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 in the opening spherical at Eastbourne.
Looking rusty with some unfastened early pictures, 40-year-old Williams, who has slipped to 1204th in the singles rankings, noticed her serve damaged in the fourth recreation and there was no approach again as Spaniard Sorribes Tormo and her Czech accomplice took the opening set.
Williams, who was sporting black tape on her face to assist with a sinus downside, had no reply as Sorribes and Bouzkova made three successive breaks in the beginning 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 following recreation to take the match to a remaining set tiebreak, which swung this fashion and that, with each pairings having match factors earlier than Sorribes Tormo missed a volley on the internet to reward her opponents victory.
“It was so enjoyable to play with Ons,” Williams stated. “We had enjoyable.
“I caught some fireplace behind me! I wanted that. It was good. We’re simply taking it sooner or later at a time.”
Earlier at Eastbourne, British quantity 4 Katie Boulter stormed to one of many largest 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.
(Reporting by Peter Hall; Editing by Toby Davis)
