Auckland (AFP)
Former female tennis queen Serena Williams needed three sets to defeat compatriot Christina McHale in the knockout stages of the Auckland tournament on Thursday.
The younger sister of the Williams sisters, 38, won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 after two hours of play.
The American, 10th in the world, welcomed her attitude during this match when she will aim for a 24th Grand Slam title during the Australian Open (January 20-February 2).
"I need to play matches like this if I want to reach my goals," she said.
"Playing in competition is super important. After losing the first set, I hung on tight and I'm happy to still be in the tournament," said Williams, who had ended his 2019 season. in September after losing in the US Open final to Canada's Bianca Andreescu.
His next opponent will be the German Laura Siegemund (N.73) who beat the American prodigy Cori Gauff (N.67) 5-7, 6-2, 6-3.
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