Return Of The Williams Sisters

SI Staff | Jun 14, 2011

Return Of The Williams Sisters /

Return Of The Williams Sisters

Venus Williams

Five months after retiring from the Australian Open with a hip injury, Venus returned on June 13 at the AEGON International in Eastbourne, England. The seven-time Grand Slam titlist won 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 over Germany's Andrea Petkovic.

Serena Williams

Serena spoke with the media ahead of her first match since winning last year's Wimbledon final. The 13-time Grand Slam champ has battled a foot injury and blood clots in her lungs.

Venus Williams

Venus was clearly rusty in her victory over Petkovic, beginning with two double-faults and a string of unforced errors.

Venus Williams

Venus squandered three match points in the final game before locking down the victory.

Venus Williams

"I've had some tough injuries for sure but definitely I didn't think it would take me this long to be able to come back and to be ready," Venus said following her first-round win. "I never anticipated that I would be sat at home just watching instead of out here. I never could have foreseen the amount of time I had to take off. There were some frustrating moments but I never let it get me down."

Venus Williams

"Tennis has been so kind to me, I love this sport, I love my job as I call it," Venus said. "It's good to be here, I feel appreciative and it's an honor to be a professional athlete. Of course I do hope that I have given enough to my sport that [it] means something when I am not here. Hopefully it means even more when I am here."

Serena Williams

Serena rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova in her first match in 11-and-a-half months.

Serena Williams

Serena fell behind 0-5 in the opening set against Pironkova, but ended up winning in just over two hours.

Serena Williams

Despite evident rust, Serena saved her best tennis for the decisive third set, punctuating points with cries of "C'mon!"

Serena Williams

Remarkably, British oddsmaker William Hill lists Serena as the second favorite to win Wimbledon, which begins June 20, after Maria Sharapova.

Published Jun 14, 2011

SI STAFF