Serena back with a win

EASTBOURNE, England (AP):

Making her return to competitive tennis after having blood clots in her lungs and two foot surgeries, Serena Williams slipped and fell in the final game of the match at Eastbourne yesterday.

The 13-time Grand Slam champion recovered from a slow start to win her first match after nearly a year off the WTA tour, rallying past Tsvetana Pironkova 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.

She fell at the baseline, but got up immediately and carried on the point, although she lost it. Williams said was briefly worried about tweaking the right foot that was in a cast for 10 weeks.

"I felt a little something. I got a little nervous, Williams said. "I was like, 'Oh.' Then I thought this is grass. You know, you're really moving. You're stopping, you're going. If I can survive this, especially with this long match, I'll be good."

The 13-time Grand Slam champion initially looked nothing like the player who lifted the 2010 Wimbledon trophy in her last tournament. Her movement was uncertain, and she appeared not to trust her groundstrokes or her usually dominant serve.