ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Serena Williams lost on her return to competitive tennis after giving birth, going down to French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in an exhibition in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
Williams struggled with her serve and Ostapenko won 6-2, 3-6 and then 10-5 in a super tiebreaker, but the American still impressed to take a set off the No. 7-ranked Ostapenko after nearly a year away from tennis.
New mom @SerenaWilliams tells us what was on her mind during her first match back. Can you guess? ?? pic.twitter.com/WQ2bonaMLp
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) December 30, 2017
The 36-year-old Williams took time off after winning the Australian Open last January while pregnant. She gave birth to her first child, a girl named Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., on Sept. 1.
Williams broke Ostapenko in the first game of her comeback but her own problems with her serve gave the Latvian a way back into the match.
French Open champ Jelena Ostapenko gets past @SerenaWilliams at @MubadalaTennis! Great to have you back, Serena! ??? pic.twitter.com/wvGC71smvQ
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) December 30, 2017
Photo: AP
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