Serena Returns Tonight In Stanford; Berdych, Raonic, Isner Begin In Washington

Serena Williams returns to the courts tonight in Stanford for the first time since her mysterious retirement in doubles at Wimbledon on July 1.

Serena, who’ll face Karolina Pliskova, says she’s now healthy after the suffering the viral illness.

“I feel really good. I feel really happy to be here,” the 32-year-old Serena said. “I’ve worked out really hard – running, swimming, jumping in the ocean, hoping no sharks will come and get me – and that always works really well for conditioning!

“But I feel really good about this tournament. It’s always been a special place for me.”

The top seeded Serena is a 2-time champion at the event.

Following her stunning win over former US Open champion Sam Stosur, 16-year-old Naomi Osaka of Japan is also in second round play against Andrea Petkovic. Aga Radwanska will meet American lefty Varvara Lepchenko.

Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic and Garbine Muguruza were winners yesterday.

In Washington, the top seeds begin their summer campaigns as power hitters Tomas Bercych, John Isner and Milos Raonic on take the court tonight against Americans in second round play. Berdych meets former Top 20 Robby Ginepri while Raonic takes on rising star Jack Sock who is coming off of back-to-back Newport and Atlanta semifinals. Raonic has won 3 of 4 over Sock including two wins this year.

American No. 1 John Isner in on grandstand against countryman Steve Johnson.

The WTA is headlined by teen sensation Taylor Townsend who faces Kristina Mladenovic in the second round.

In notable matches yesterday, Sloane Stephens continues to struggle losing to Christina McHale while Sam Querrey, Kevin Anderson and Ivo Karlovic were winners.

WEDNESDAY STANFORD SCHEDULE
STADIUM
11:00 MONICA PUIG (PUR) v SACHIA VICKERY (USA)
13:00 VARVARA LEPCHENKO (USA) v [2] AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL)
15:00 NAOMI OSAKA (JPN) v [8] ANDREA PETKOVIC (GER)
19:00 [1] SERENA WILLIAMS (USA) v KAROLINA PLISKOVA (CZE)
21:00 [4] HAO-CHING CHAN / ANDREA PETKOVIC (TPE / GER) v PAULA KANIA / KATERINA SINIAKOVA (POL / CZE)

WEDNESDAY WASHINGTON SCHEDULE
STADIUM COURT start 1:30 pm
WTA – [WC] S Rogers (USA) vs M Erakovic (NZL)
Not Before 4:00 pm
ATP – [4] K Nishikori (JPN) vs S Querrey (USA)
Not Before 6:00 pm
ATP – J Sock (USA) vs [2] M Raonic (CAN)
Not Before 8:00 pm
ATP – [1] [WC] T Berdych (CZE) vs [Q] R Ginepri (USA)
ATP – [1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [WC] J Donaldson (USA) / S Kozlov (USA)