Venus Williams walks on court docket to compete for the primary time in 5 months.
Packed home for this legend. Take heed to that crowd
So long as she performs, we’ll watch ❤️
pic.twitter.com/96UMJdrkN1
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 13, 2023
“Superb. I can’t imagine I had the prospect to play towards Venus,” the Swiss teenager mentioned on court docket after her victory. “She’s a tremendous participant and actually a task mannequin for everybody.” Williams, now ranked No. 696, was put underneath stress by Naef within the seventh recreation of the primary set however served strongly to save lots of two break factors and take a 4-3 lead. Williams then broke Naef to like to take a 5-3 and served a love recreation as she reeled off 12 straight factors.
Wimbledon, the British grass-court main which Williams has received 5 occasions, opens on July 3. Williams’ final singles main title was at Wimbledon in 2008.
Williams injured her hamstring in January in Auckland. She broke first within the second set however Naef fought again to power the tiebreaker and dominated the deciding set.