Tennis News

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – World No.2 Serena Williams won five straight games en route to her first match win since September, defeating French veteran Pauline Parmentier, 6-3, 6-4, to advance into the second round of the ASB Classic.

Relive the match as it happened on the WTA Insider Live Blog!

“It’s my first match back in serveral months and I was playing a really good player today,” she said during her on-court interview.

“COME ON!”

Yup, @SerenaWilliams is back! ✊ pic.twitter.com/w05QPuTfGh

— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017

“This wind was really getting to me! This whole week I practiced with no wind, but today it was so windy.

“But it was fun…well, it wasn’t fun, but it was interesting!”

Serena was forced to miss much of the second half of 2016 due to injury – though she still managed to tie Stefanie Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon – and hadn’t been on court since the US Open.

Overcoming a slow start, the American recovered from a 1-3 deficit to take the first set, and fought off three break points in the middle of the second to seal victory in one hour and 15 minutes.

Sneaky drop shot from @SerenaWilliams! ? #ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/gPh0vy80ld

— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017

“I’m feeling like I’m trying to get out there, and that every match counts. I’ve never played in front of you guys so this is really special for my career. I’ve never been here, so thanks for making me feel so welcome.”

Up next for Serena is either Madison Brengle or qualifier Jamie Loeb, two Americans who could face the top seed.

She’s back!@SerenaWilliams beats Parmentier 6-3, 6-4 in @ASB_Classic First round! pic.twitter.com/gLufwPcT5z

— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017

SHENZHEN, China – Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska eased into the Shenzhen Open quarterfinals with a quick-fire win over Sorana Cirstea on Tuesday.

The previous evening Radwanska had come perilously close to a shock defeat against wildcard Duan Ying Ying, but endured no such scare this time around, wrapping up a 6-0, 6-3 victory in an hour and 19 minutes.

“After a match like yesterday, there’s always less pressure today because you know you could have gone home already,” Radwanska said. “I think I was playing much better today, more confident and everything was smoother on court and that’s why the score was like that.”

Radwanska and Cirstea have known each other since their early teenage years, and were meeting each other for the eighth time in the professional ranks. After cantering through the opening set, Radwanska found herself trailing 3-0 in the second. And she as forced to delve into her bag of tricks to avoid falling further behind before steadying the ship to chalk up a sixth win over the Romanian.

Cool as you like from @ARadwanska to save break point! pic.twitter.com/LMMCCpjaNJ

— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017

“I know Sorana for a long time, since junior days, so of course it’s different than when you play someone for the first time. Her ranking was up and down for a long time, but I know it doesn’t matter what her ranking is she can play very good tennis – she hits the ball very hard from both sides – and I prepared for that.

“The first set I was a bit lucky – it could have been a totally different score – and in the important moments I was taking my chances, and didn’t let go. At the beginning of the second set I lost some concentration, but it’s good that I came back.”

In the last eight, Radwanska will meet Alison Riske, whom she defeated in last year’s final. Riske was equally impressive in her 6-1, 6-1 second-round victory over Tsvetana Pironkova.