Serena off to winning start in WTA return

Serena Williams shook off the rust from a 15-month layoff due topregnancy to win her opening match at the WTA Indian Wells event with a7-5, 6-3 victory over Zarina Diyas.The unseeded Williams was the top-ranked player in the world when shebegan her long layoff following her victory at the 2017 Australian Open,where she was already expecting daughter Alexis Olympia who was born inSeptember. After a couple of exhibitions and a Fed Cup doubles match,Williams said Thursday she is ready to hit with the big guns on the Touragain. “I am not going to be there today or next week but I will getthere and I do have my goals,” Williams said.“At some point I need to jump and fly. It takes time to get back.”Williams entered the court Thursday night to a loud ovation, with manyin the half full stadium standing and applauding as she came out of thetunnel for just her third appearance in Indian Wells in the last 17years.After that it was a matter of gradually asserting herself by takingcontrol of the rallies, and she got the first break of serve in the 11thgame of the first set and secured the set in the next game on her thirdset point. Her daughter was born on September 1 but Williams saysthroughout the postnatal period she tried to maintain a level offitness.Sitting in Williams’ box were her husband and Reddit co-founder AlexisOhanian, mother Oracene, sisters Lyndrea and Isha, her agent, and hercoach Patrick Mouratoglou. Older sister Venus watched from a seat in anupper-level box.The 36-year-old American is the star attraction in Indian Wells, butbehind her popularity this year was the mystery surrounding her matchfitness and ball-striking ability.The 23-time Grand Slam winner answered some of those questions Thursdayby blasting four aces and winning 63 percent of her first-serve points.“From zero to Serena I am with the S,” she said. “I have got a ways togo. It is a journey for me and I am just going to go for it. “I wanted to stay fit and just be ready. I wasn’t ready to retire yet even though it would have been a great way to retire.” Venus clash ahead?Williams set up a second round match with 29th seeded Kiki Bertens. Awin over Bertens could see her face Venus in the third round. Venus, whois seeded eighth, enjoyed a first round bye and will play Romania’sSorana Cirstea in her opening match. Serena boycotted Indian Wells for14 years after she was booed in the 2001 final. She returned in 2015 buthad to pull out before her semi-final against Simona Halep with a kneeproblem.In 2016, she lost in the final to Victoria Azarenka, 6-4, 6-4.Indian Wells features a star-studded women’s field in a tournament thatlooks wide open for the taking by any of the top 10 seeds, led by worldnumber one Halep. Like Williams, Azarenka ended a long layoff from apregnancy by competing in the final match of the Indian Wells nightsession Thursday.Azarenka, who needed a wild card to get into the draw, cruised past Britain’s Heather Watson 6-4, 6-2.Meanwhile Argentine Federico Delbonis saved two match points and earned asecond-round clash with Roger Federer when he outlasted Ryan Harrison6-2 4-6 7-5 in the men’s section. Delbonis used his powerful forehand togood effect, eventually dispatching the American in a match thatfeatured numerous long rallies.Russian Daniil Medvedev maintained his perfect career record against Steve Johnson when he beat the American 7-6(0) 6-4.Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov, meanwhile, was too good for qualifier Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania, winning 6-3 6-4.