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Serena Returns—and Wins

Williams triumphant after rough start

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 14, 2011 3:15 PM CDT

(AP) – Making her return to competitive tennis after a life-threatening illness, Serena Williams started out looking nothing like the player who lifted the Wimbledon trophy in her last tournament. The 13-time Grand Slam champion recovered from a terrible start to win her first match after nearly a year out, beating Tsvetana Pironkova 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Eastbourne International tennis tournament. Her movements were uncertain at first, but Williams began to look like her old self in the second set.

“I think I was just a little anxious and missing a tremendous amount of shots," she admitted. She said she "felt a little something" in the foot she injured last year, but when she fell in the last game, that was no longer her concern. "It's definitely not cool on my nails if I fall," she said. "I can potentially break one and that makes me really upset. I have three weeks to get through without breaking a nail."

Serena Williams reacts during her singles match against Tsvetana Pironkova. (Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria plays a return to Serena Williams. (Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The fingernails of Serena Williams are seen as she prepares to serve. (Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Serena Williams plays a return to Tsvetana Pironkova. (Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Serena Williams plays a return to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. (Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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Serena Returns—and Wins

Williams triumphant after rough start

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