Venus ousts Serena Williams in Indian Wells

By Daily Sports on March 13, 2018

Venus Williams has ended Serena Williams’ return to tournament tennis as she ousted her early today in the third round of Indian Wells BNP Paribas Open in two straight sets 6-3, 6-4.

Venus closed out the 29th career meeting between the two on her second match point as Serena sailed a forehand long to end the third round match.

The 10th seeded Venus moves on to the round of 16 where she will face either Anastasija Sevastova or 12th seeded Julia Georges.

It was the first meeting between the two sisters since they clashed in the final of the 2017 Australian Open, which Serena won before taking a 15-month hiatus due to her pregnancy.

It is rare for the Williams sisters to play this early in a tournament. It is the earliest they have faced each other since their first encounter at the Australian Open in 1998.

The sisters arrived outside the stadium together on a golf cart then walked through the tunnel with Serena entering the court first with many in the crowd standing and cheering.

Venus blasted six aces but had eight double faults in the one hour 26 minutes main stadium match.

Serena is still shaking off the rust after the long layoff as she hit four aces but had her serve broken four times.

This was their first encounter with Venus as an aunt and Serena as a new mother after giving birth to her baby daughter, Alexis Olympia, on September 1.

Venus’s victory also comes 17 years after an ugly booing incident led to a 14-year boycott of the tournament by the sisters.

But for some it brought closure to the once testy relationship between Indian Wells and the sisters who hail from the Los Angeles suburb of Compton.

Said Serena Williams at the end of Monday night’s match: “There’s a silver lining always for me. I have to look forward to the next match and the next time.”

Serena said she is still easing her way back into match fitness.

“It wasn’t very easy, obviously,” she said. “It was good to play and try to get in the rhythm and get into the swing again.

“I can’t really replicate the situation no matter how much I do in practice. I make those shots 10 times out of 10 in practice.

“It’s just the nerves, the anticipation you feel naturally. It’s a little bit of everything that comes in a match that just doesn’t normally happen.”

And sister Venus complemented her: “Her level was super high. It was really difficult to close out the match. She’s going to be winning tournaments sooner than later.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Venus Williams and Serena Williams

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 13, 2018


 

You may also like...
Pastore Leaves Roma Before End Of Contract

Murray Receives Wild Card For US Open Tuneup...

Super Eagles maintain position in FIFA ranking

We’ll not give up on NPFL title chase...

Italy Near Euros after Jorginho Winner in Finland...

Nigerian music star Davido announced to be on...

 

Latest News Abraham set to join Besiktas from Roma 'Not impossible' Mbeumo will stay, say Brentford 'Turkish Messi' ready to replace Modric at Real Madrid Guardiola praises City’s performance despite Club World Cup exit Fluminense beat Inter Milan to reach Club World Cup quarter-finals Alcaraz avoids Fognini shock after fan taken ill Anambra School Sports Festival Ends In Emotional Grand Style As Njikoka Emerge Champions Club W’Cup: Chelsea face travel woes after group stage upset Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion Adesanya eyes Strickland fight for UFC return Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger Brentford reject Man Utd's new £62.5m Mbeumo bid

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,554 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,716 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,731 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,326 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,324 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,317 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,121 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,660 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,770 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,382 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,829 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,253 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media