Serena Williams has now won her first singles match since last year’s French Open with a first-round victory over world number 57 Nuria Parrizas Diaz in Toronto.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, whose long-awaited return from injury this year ended in an early exit at Wimbledon, won 6-3 6-4 in just under two hours at the National Bank Open.
It was the first time 40-year-old Williams, in only her second appearance of the year, had won a singles match since beating Danielle Collins at Roland Garros on June 4, 2021.
Afterwards, explaining her motivation to keep on playing, she said: “I guess there’s just a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I don’t know, I’m getting closer to the light. Lately, that’s been it for me. I can’t wait to get to that light.”
This article was updated 2 months ago
