SERENA Williams has reached the doubles semi-finals at the Rothesay International Eastbourne in her comeback from injury last year.
Alongside partner Ons Jabeur, the team - dubbed "Onserena", secured a 6-2 6-2 victory over Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching in just over an hour.
The pair are now just two victories away from lifting silverware on the south coast.
Williams produced several aces, especially at the net, despite shadows gathering at Devonshire Park to show the grand-slam champion may be a contender at Wimbledon next week.
The 40-year-old played her first match since sustaining a serious injury to her leg at last year’s Wimbledon earlier this week.
Quizzed on how she celebrated the win of her first match since her comeback, the seven-time Wimbleton champion joked she went for a dip in the sea.
She said: “I went to the beach and for a swim like everyone here in the cold water, no, no way.
“I didn’t do much. I just played with my baby, Olympia. She is so fun.”
After close to 12 months on the sidelines, the American is set to begin her pursuit for a 24th grand slam title.
She said: “I think I will always enjoy the competitive side and I think there is a part of me that will always, no matter what happens, will always miss it.
“So I wasn’t thinking about whether I was missing it. I was just recovering and taking time off and just taking mental breaks, but yes, now when I’m back it’s like, especially this match in particular, you really remember the competitiveness and then you start to miss it.”
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