Serena Williams made a winning return to competitive tennis as she defeated Bernarda Pera at the Top Seed Open in Lexington.
Despite a slow start, Willams scored 4-6 6-4 6-1 in two hours and 15 minutes.
"I knew I could play a little bit better if I hung in," she said.
Serena advances to the second round and will face her older sister, Venus, who secured a 6-3 6-2 winner over Victoria Azarenka.
Elsewhere, 16-year-old world number 53 Coco Gauff overcame fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-5 7-5.
The tournament played out to an empty arena following restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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