Los Angeles (AFP)
American Serena Williams (9th in the world) won Tuesday against her compatriot Bernarda Pera (60th) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the tournament in Lexington (Kentucky), the first edition of which was behind closed doors marks the return of tennis to the United States despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Struggling in the first set, Williams dismissed 4 break points in 4 sets throughout the second set to return to the game before sweeping Pera 6 sets to 1 in the third set.
Serena Williams, who played her first game there since a Fed Cup meeting in early February against Latvian Anastasia Sevastova, will meet her sister Venus or Belarussian Victoria Azarenka in the next round.
The tournament plateau is raised despite its low endowment (202,250 dollars), with the presence of Sloane Stephens, Coco Gauff or Amanda Anisimova.
This tournament will allow some players to prepare for the US Open, which should take place from August 31 to September 13.
© 2020 AFP