Serena Williams comeback runs into Venus roadblock as big sister triumphs at Indian Wells

SERENA Williams admits she has ‘a long way to go’ to get back to her peak after her sister, Venus, brought her Indian Wells campaign to a comprehensive end in the third round.

Serena couldn’t match it against Venus.

SERENA Williams admits she has “a long way to go” to get back to her peak after being knocked out of the Indian Wells Masters by sister Venus.

The younger Williams had progressed to the third round in her first WTA Tour tournament since the 2017 Australian Open, in which she defeated Venus in the final to collect her 23rd grand slam title before taking a break to give birth to daughter Alexis Olympia.

However, Venus came out on top in Indian Wells for her 12th victory over Serena in 29 meetings, setting up a last-16 clash with Anastasija Sevastova by cruising to a 6-3 6-4 win over her sibling.

“It wasn’t very easy, obviously,” Serena said.

“It was good to play and try to get in the rhythm and get into the swing again.

“I can’t really replicate the situation no matter how much I do in practice. I make those shots 10 times out of 10 in practice.

“It’s just the nerves, the anticipation you feel naturally. It’s a little bit of everything that comes in a match that just doesn’t normally happen.”

It is rare for the Williams sisters to play this early in a tournament and the earliest they have faced each other since their first encounter at the Australian Open in 1998.

Serena Williams knows she needs more time to reach her top.

They arrived outside the stadium together on a golf cart then walked through the tunnel with Serena entering the court first, as many in the crowd stood and cheered.

Despite the loss Serena still leads their career series 17-12. This was their first encounter with Venus as an aunt and Serena as a new mother after giving birth to her baby daughter, Alexis Olympia, on September 1.

Venus’s victory also comes 17 years after an ugly booing incident led to a 14-year boycott of the tournament by the sisters.

It brought closure to the once testy relationship between Indian Wells and the sisters who hail from the Los Angeles suburb of Compton. Serena returned to the tournament in 2015 and Venus a year later.

Asked about the incident finally being put to rest, Venus said, “It never crossed my mind.”

Serena said she is trying not to look too far into the season.

“I have a lot to improve on,” she said.

Originally published as Serena Williams comeback runs into Venus roadblock as big sister triumphs at Indian Wells