Serena Williams Triumphant in Indian Wells Return

World No. 1 Serena Williams returns to Indian Wells in the match against Monica Niculescu of Romania on March 13, 2015. (Courtesy of Jessica E. Davis)

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Reported by Peter Smelser:

Serena Williams was welcomed back to the main court at Indian Wells with a raucous standing ovation Friday night, ending her 14-year boycott of the tennis tournament.

Tournament owner Larry Ellison and tennis legend John McEnroe were among the first on their feet when Williams walked out.

“It feels great, it’s overwhelming walking out and hearing everyone cheer was really a wonderful feeling,” Williams said. “It’s been worth it coming back and being able to step back out here on the court and create new memories.”

The 33-year-old was crying heavily as she walked across the court to her chair before the match.

“I think they were tears of overwhelmed ‐‐ they were just overwhelming. At that moment everything had just ‐‐ I just felt so good to be out there,” Williams said.

After a nervous start, dropping the first two games of the match, the World’s No. 1 player found her groove defeating Monica Niculescu of Romania 7-5, 7-5.

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The crafty Romanian kept Williams on her toes for more than two hours hitting slice-after-slice, while mixing in an occasional more powerful shot.

“I just never got the same ball or ‐‐ I did get that forehand a few times, but it was low, high. I just wasn’t able to get my rhythm today,” Williams said. “I’m just glad to get through that match. It was definitely a super tricky match for me.”

Williams announced her intention to play at this year’s BNP Paribas Open in a column for Time.com shortly after she captured her sixth Australian Open title.

“I didn’t think I would come back, to be honest,” Williams told the media on Thursday. “In order to forgive, you have to let go of everything.”

In 2001, Williams’ sister, Venus, withdrew from a greatly anticipated semifinal match with tendinitis. That announcement was made to fans just minutes before the all-sister semifinals was slated to start.

When Serena took to the court for the finals against Kim Clijsters, fans rained down boos for her, Venus and their father. Later, her father said he heard racial slurs coming from the crowd.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to win this match. I just want to get through this moment,” Williams recalled on Thursday.

Serena is seeking her 66th career title at Indian Wells.

Williams will continue her quest on Sunday when she faces Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan in the third-round.