Tennis: Serena Williams returns to the court at Madison Square Garden

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Serena Williams of the United States waves to the fans as she is introduced before the start of the Tie Break Tens at Madison Square Garden on March 5, 2018 in New York City. Photo Courtesy: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

By Tennie Sumague
EBC New York Bureau

NEW YORK (Eagle News) – The queen of women’s tennis, Serena Williams, made her return on the court Monday night at the U.S. debut of the Tie Break Tens Competition in Madison Square Garden.

The winner-take all tournament featured the 23-time Grand Slam champion, sister Venus, 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, American sensation CoCo Vandeweghe, World number four Elina Svitolina, retired Slovakian player Daniela Hantuchova, and top 50 WTA players Shuai Zhang and Sorana Cirstea. The eight elite players competed for $250,000 in prize money in a no game, no set, all tie-break format.

Serena Williams (L) of the US speaks with her sister Venus WIlliams (R) before their matches in the Tie Break Tens New York tournament at Madison Square Garden March 5, 2018, featuring eight of the tour’s top female players competing for the $250,000 winner’s prize. /AFP PHOTO / Photo Courtesy: TIMOTHY A. CLARY

Fans cheered aloud when Serena was introduced and walked into the court. Serena defeated Bartoli in the first round but lost to Zhang in a close semifinal 13-11. Despite the loss, Serena has set high expectations in her comeback which starts Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California.

Shuai Zhang of China is congratulated by Serena Williams of the United States after she won her match against Williams and advanced to the final match of the Tie Break Tens at Madison Square Garden on March 5, 2018 in New York City. Photo Courtesy: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

“I think everybody should have high expectations [for themselves],” Serena told ESPN Sportscenter host, Hannah Storm after her semifinal loss. “You should always believe in yourself even if no one else does. If someone else tells you ‘no’, just keep going and don’t let that stop you. That’s kind of how I feel and that’s the message that I’m spreading on this journey back.”

Winning the inaugural event was the Ukrainian Svitolina, who knocked off Venus and Vandeweghe en route to the final where she defeated Zhang 10-3.

Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine poses with the trophy after her win of the Tie Break Tens at Madison Square Garden on March 5, 2018 in New York City. Photo Courtesy: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

“It was amazing to win the first ever Tie Break Tens tournament in the U.S.,” Svitolina said. “I had a lot of fun out there on the court and it was great to see the crowd get behind the speed and intensity of the game.”

On hand at the tournament were the gold-medal winning U.S. Hockey Team, who received an ovation in between breaks.

The United States Women’s Olympic hockey team poses with their gold medals and tennis champions Serena Williams and Venus Williams during the Tie Break Tens at Madison Square Garden on March 5, 2018 in New York City. Photo Courtesy: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

The Tie Break Tens Competition made its debut in the United States with successful stints in London, Madrid, Vienna, and Melbourne.

“[The] tournament proved to be a thrilling display of elite tennis from some of the world’s greatest female players,” said Tie Break Tens CEO Felicity Barnard. “A great debut for Tie Break Tens in the United States and hopefully just the start in encouraging a wider audience to get behind the sport.”

(Eagle News Service)