"Super hero" Serena Williams makes eye-catching and triumphant return to Grand Slam action

Sport360 staff 03:59 30/05/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Serena Williams said she felt like a super hero as tennis’ Wonder Woman returned to action at the French Open with an eye-catching win while wearing a black catsuit against Kristyna Pliskova.

    The former world number one had not played a major tournament since claiming a 23rd title at the 2017 Australian Open, having given birth to her daughter, Olympia, in September.

    Her first grand slam action in over 15 months had the Paris fashionistas in a whirl as she walked on court in a black bodysuit with a bright pink belt.

    Afterwards Williams revealed: “I feel like a warrior in it, like a warrior princess, kind of.

    “I’m always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a super hero, and it’s kind of my way of being a super hero. I feel like a super-hero when I wear it.”

    This was not quite a super hero performance, to be expected with Williams short of match sharpness and her footwork not quite there yet.

    But the 36-year-old’s serve remains a formidable weapon, helping her take the first set after a tie-break.

    The pair exchanged breaks in the second set, with Williams grabbing the decisive one in the seventh game before sealing a 7-6, (7/4) 6-4 victory – not bad going for her first match on clay in two years.

    Maria Sharapova, meanwhile, lost six games in a row and then won the next six as she got her return to Roland Garros off to a successful start.

    The Russian appeared to be cruising at 6-1, 3-1 ahead but Holland’s Richel Hogenkamp suddenly had her on the ropes, taking the second set and racing 3-0 ahead in the decider.

    But Sharapova rediscovered her game in the nick of time to reel off half a dozen games for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

    It was a sweet moment for the two-time Paris champion.

    Rafael Nadal won his 80th match at Roland Garros.

    Rafael Nadal won his 80th match at Roland Garros.

    This time last year Sharapova had recently returned from a 15-month doping ban, but had not built her ranking high enough to qualify and was not offered a wild card.

    But 12 months later Sharapova is back in the world’s top 30, seeded 28 at Roland Garros and a potential challenger for a third title.

    “I think if there is any way to turn that match around, it’s that way,” she said.

    “It’s great to be in this draw and great to be back on a court that I have had great success at.”

    Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza got the better of Svetlana Kuznetsova in a first-round meeting of two former winners.

    Caroline Garcia of France, the seventh seed, took just 58 minutes to dispatch China’s Yingying Duan 6-1, 6-0.

    In the men’s section, Rafael Nadal began his campaign for an 11th French Open title with a rain-delayed 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) win over Italy’s Simone Bolelli – his 80th victory at Roland Garros.

    Resuming 3-0 down in the third set, Nadal swiftly recovered the break but was pushed hard by the world number 129.

    The Spaniard saved three set points from 6-3 down in the tie-break before prevailing in damp conditions.

    Nadal will play Argentina’s Guido Pella in the second round.

    Recommended