Serena Williams earns first win of season in Toronto

TORONTO –

Serena Williams hadn’t gained in so lengthy, she mentioned she could not even bear in mind the sensation.

She picked up her first victory because the 2021 French Open on Monday, beating Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 6-3, 6-4 on the ladies’s Nationwide Financial institution Open.

“I am simply completely happy to get a win. It has been a really very long time, I forgot what that felt like,” Williams mentioned.

It is simply the second event of the season for the 40-year-old Williams, who returned to competitors at Wimbledon simply over a month in the past. The 23-time Grand Slam champion fell within the first spherical to Concord Tan in three units on the All England Membership.

Earlier than then, she final competed on the 2021 Wimbledon event, the place she retired in the midst of her first match as a result of a torn hamstring suffered after slipping on the grass floor.

Williams, who will flip 41 on the finish of September, will subsequent face both Twelfth-ranked Belinda Bencic or Tereza Martincova.

Williams has gained this event thrice and reached the ultimate in her final look on the hardcourt occasion in 2019, shedding to Bianca Andreescu when she was compelled to cease due to damage.

However Williams has performed little since and is aware of she wants time on the court docket.

“I really feel good, I felt like I competed nicely at the moment. I feel that is what I wanted to do, is simply compete,” she mentioned. “Mentally, I am getting there. I am not the place I usually am (or) the place I need to be. Any match I play, whether or not I win or lose, helps me.

“I have never performed so much within the final 12 months, (even) two years. I feel that helps me bodily. I really feel a lot better in observe, it is simply getting that to the court docket. Actually, I am the type of particular person (the place) it takes one or two issues after which it clicks.”

Williams began out sturdy, taking the primary two video games with relative ease.

Parrizas-Diaz tied it 2-2, however regardless of Williams’ struggles at sure factors, the 31-year-old Spaniard could not discover sufficient of a constant circulate to get forward. Williams discovered her rhythm, mixing stable contact together with her signature energy and placing shot after shot out of Parrizas-Diaz’s attain.

Williams’ effort had the followers on their ft roaring and a few even bowing.

Williams gained the ultimate three video games to take the primary set, then surged forward within the second after the 57th-ranked Parrizas-Diaz took a 4-3 lead. She endured a nine-deuce sport to carry serve and even the set, then broke within the subsequent sport earlier than serving out the victory.

Whereas Williams says the tip of her exceptional profession is in sight, she’s having fun with her time and staying within the second.

“I am getting nearer to the sunshine. Currently, that is been it, I am unable to wait to get to that gentle,” she mentioned, including the sunshine represents “freedom.”

“I really like enjoying although, it is wonderful,” she added. “I am unable to do that without end, so generally you simply need to attempt your finest to benefit from the moments and do the perfect you can.”