By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, March 9, 2018
Enduring early labor pains, Williams beat back a scrappy Zarina Diyas, 7-5, 6-3, securing a berth in the BNP Paribas Open second round.
Photo credit: Dan Huerlimann/Beelde Images
INDIAN WELLS—Clad in black, Serena Williams cut a striking figure in a triumphant return in her first tour-level match since becoming a mother.
Enduring early labor pains, Williams beat back a scrappy Zarina Diyas, 7-5, 6-3, securing a berth in the BNP Paribas Open second round.
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“It’s been over a year and a kid later,” said Williams, who gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian in September. “It was meant to be so I’m really happy about that. It definitely wasn’t easy. It was good, a little rusty. It doesn’t matter. I’m out here doing my best.”
The 36-year-old Williams scored her first WTA win since defeating older sister Venus to capture her 23rd career Grand Slam championship 404 days ago.
In her first appearance as an unseeded player since the 2011 Cincinnati, Williams worked to shake off the rust of inactivity.
“When you’re unseeded you kind of have to work harder because you can play the number one player immediately,” Williams said. “I knew that going in. I just have to be better and then after this I have to keep going better until I can get seeded and work my way to where I want to be.”
The 53rd-ranked Diyas denied break point in the opening game then battled back from a triple break point hole holding for 3-2.
Trying to find her rhythm and range, Williams wasn’t thumping her first serve with her typical vigor in the early stages of the opening set and scattered some running forehands. Still, she held with control through the first 10 games.
Turning her shoulders and hips into her shots, the former world No. 1 coaxed successive forehand errors breaking for 6-5.
“Come on Serena let’s close it out!” shouted a fan in the second row wearing a t-shirt with Williams’ face and the words “Serena Williams is GOAT” emblazoned on the front.
The two-time Indian Wells champion answered the call slashing a 116 mph ace down the middle to open. Williams closed the 50-minute opening set with a loud “come on!” and a clenched fist.
The 24-year-old Diyas, who managed just two games against Williams in a 54-minute rout at the 2015 Indian Wells, continued to hug the baseline and change direction down the line at times to make the heavier hitter move.
The second set featured five consecutive breaks.
Williams broke for 3-2 then tapped the toes of her black Nikes as Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” blared over the sound system.
Diyas did not back down, bending so low she was nearly scraping her knees off the court as she broke back for 3-all.
Undeterred, Williams smacked an inside-out forehand winner breaking back for 4-3.
Swinging more freely, Williams whipped a 109 mph ace out wide stamping a love hold for 5-3 after 90 minutes.
The former world No. 1 closed in 93 minutes.
Aiming to become the first woman to win Indian Wells three times, Williams will play 29th-seeded Kiki Bertens next. Should she get past Bertens, she could face older sister Venus in the third round, though Serena insists she is not looking too far ahead.
“I’m taking it one day at a time,” Williams said. “I’m not where I want to be, but I’m getting there. And that’s one thing I realize. I’m not gonna be there today or next week or tomorrow, but I will eventually get there and I do have my goals on when I want to peak and when I don’t want to peak.
"And at some point I need to start and just jump and fly and I can do it. And every day is gonna be a challenge for me but I know I’ll overcome it and I’m ready to overcome it.”