Serena Williams wins 2nd match of comeback, will play sister Venus next

Serena Williams has now made it two consecutive wins in her return to professional tennis, beating Kiki Bertens in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open from Indian Wells, Calif. on Saturday. Williams beat Bertens, the 29th seed, in straight sets, 7-6(5), 7-5, and will face her sister, Venus Williams, in the third round.

Williams is playing in her first proper singles tournament since winning the 2017 Australian Open while about eight weeks pregnant. She has since had her child, had life-threatening medical issues related to the pregnancy, and is now making her way back in search of more titles to add to her legacy.

In her first match back, she bested Zarina Diyas, the 53rd-ranked player in the world. She normally would get a bye in the first round of a non-Grand Slam tournament, but as she herself was unranked due to her inactivity, she had to face Diyas.

Her sister, Venus, bested Sorona Cirstea in her second-round match earlier on the day, 6-3, 6-4. Venus did get a bye as she is the eighth seed, and this will be the 29th time she’s faced her sister in singles competition. The last time? The aforementioned 2017 Australian Open finals.

It was a very competitive first set, with Williams getting broken early and dropping down by a couple games, but she broke back and got things on serve again. Eventually, Bertens managed to take a 5-4 lead and was serving for the first set. But Williams gave herself a double break point attempt by taking a 40-15 lead in the game. Bertens fought back to deuce, but Williams still managed to get the break.

They went on to a tiebreak in the first set. Williams took an early lead, but it was pretty close throughout. Williams had a set point, then Bertens fought it off. She had another one, and Bertens held on again. But on her third set point attempt, Williams prevailed.

Williams held off a tiebreak in the second set, securing the victory before it got that far, but just barely, winning it, 7-5.