The 23 grand slam singles champion made a losing return to the courts against Jelena Ostapenko in Abu Dhabi after taking almost a year out to have her baby.
ADVERTISEMENTTennis star Serena Williams made a losing return to the courts after taking almost a year out to give birth to a baby girl.
She was up against Jelena Ostapenko at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Williams made a slow start and lost the opening set 6-2. But she bounced back showing flashes of her usual star quality taking the 2nd set 6-3 and the match to a tie-break.
It was the 36 year old's first outing since winning her 23rd grand slam singles title at the Australian Open in January while pregnant.
Despite losing the decisive tie break 10-5, the American said she was pleased with her return. But Williams admitted her mind sometimes wandered to her baby daughter Alexis during the match.