Long-standing tennis world number one Serena Williams won a match for the first time this year after the failed comeback in Wimbledon.
The 40-year-old American won the tournament in Toronto 6-3, 6-4 against Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz and advanced to the second round. The success was only certain after almost two hours of play. “It’s great to be back here in Toronto. I didn’t know if I would be able to play here,” said Serena Williams right after the match.
The winner of 23 Grand Slam tournaments lost to French Harmony Tan in the first round of the grass classic in Wimbledon in mid-July after a year-long injury break. After that, she initially left open whether she would continue her career. The tournament in Toronto is in the second highest category after the four Grand Slams. The last of the four most important events in the tennis season is the US Open in New York, which begins on August 29th.