Family matters

Lexington (US), August 12

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Serena Williams made a winning return to competitive tennis as she rallied from a set down to beat Bernarda Pera 4-6 6-4 6-1 at the Top Seed Open here yesterday in her first match of the Covid-19 era.

Williams was five points from falling to the American left-hander in the second set but suddenly showcased her fighting spirit and pulled away to set up a second-round showdown with older sister Venus, a 6-3 6-2 winner over Victoria Azarenka.

“It’s good just in general because I haven’t played,” said Serena, who is gearing up for the August 31-September 13 US Open. “A lot of players have been playing — little things and little matches and playing against other players — but I’ve only been training so this was really good for me,” she added.

The Top Seed Open, the first WTA Tour tournament in the US since the Covid-19 outbreak halted play, provided a taste of what is to come for the 38-year-old American as she bids for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title in New York, with empty, silent stands taking the place of roaring crowds.

“I’ve been through so many things in my career so this was totally different,” said Serena. “Being in New York will be a little different because there’s this massive stadium.”

Venus, who fell in the first round at the Australian Open, Acapulco and Monterrey earlier this year, cruised through her clash of former world No. 1s as she turned aside the one break point she faced during an 80-minute win over Azarenka. “Honestly, it’s really difficult to come back after all these months and play well,” Venus said.

About her upcoming clash, Venus said, “One Grand Slam winner, former world No. 1, to another. It’s been quite the draw for me. But quite honestly, this is perfect, because I haven’t played in forever, so I want to play the best players. And I think I got my wish playing Serena, so here we go.”

In other action, former US Open champion Sloane Stephens was upset 6-3 6-3 by Canadian Leylah Fernandez, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putinseva beat Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-0 6-4 and Coco Gauff beat fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-5 7-5. — Agencies

Pliskova wins

PRAGUE: Kristyna Pliskova (in pic) delivered the biggest upset of the Prague Open so far, ousting No. 2 seed Petra Martic 6-1 7-5 in the second round. Third seed Elise Mertens edged past Camila Giorgi 6-4 6-2 and seal her place in the quarterfinals.