- 2024 Brisbane event includes Nadal, Murray, Dimitrov, and Osaka
- Rafael Nadal Announces Brisbane Return
- Alicia Molik Named Adelaide International Tournament Director
- Defending Champion Tiafoe Returning for U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship
- Including doubles, Sinner defeats Djokovic three times in 11 days
- Sinner the hero as Italy captures first Davis Cup title since 1976
- Dana Mathewson Wins Two Gold Medals at the Parapan American Games
- Gambill: Wayne Arthurs One of Top 3 Servers
- Davis Cup Finals Draws and Schedule for Sunday, November 26, 2023
- Stars Set for LA Tennis Bash on December 9th to Benefit First Break Academy
- SOLINCO NEW RACQUETS THE WHITEOUT AND BLACKOUT XTD+
- Serbia and Italy advance to Davis Cup semis, setting up another Djokovic vs. Sinner showdown
- Lynne Wasserman, Lew Wasserman’s Daughter | Casey Wasserman’s Mother | Hollywood’s Princess Passes Away
- Former WTA Star Olivia Rogowska Wins Emerging Artist Award for Ceramic Art
- Davis Cup Finals Draws and Schedule for Thursday, November 23, 2023
Tennis News• Serena vs. Venus set in Lexington • 31 St. Time • Gauff also advances to second round
- Updated: August 11, 2020

By Ricky Dimon
It is not going to take long for the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky to put the sport of professional tennis back in the spotlight. Just four days into the second week of the WTA Tour’s comeback from a five-month coronavirus hiatus, it will be Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams.
The two Williams sisters won their respective first-round matches on Tuesday and will go head-to-head for the 31st time in their careers on Thursday. After Serena overcame Bernarda Pera 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, Venus Williams coasted past Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-2.
Not exactly an easy draw for either player…and especially not for Venus!

“One Grand Slam winner, former world No.1, to another,” the 40-year-old said of Azarenka and Serena. “It’s been quite the draw for me, but quite honestly, this is perfect, because I haven’t played in forever, so I want to play the best players. And I think I got my wish playing Serena, so here we go.”
“I feel like I always play Venus in the first or second round of every tournament, so that’s annoying,” Serena said.
Serena leads the head-to-head series 18-12 after most recently dominating 6-1, 6-2 at the 2018 U.S. Open.
The two all-time greats are joined in the last 16 by a potential future star in Coco Gauff. Just 16 years old, Gauff kicked off her Lexington campaign with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over fellow American Caroline Dolehide. Gauff struck eight aces and broke Dolehide four times.

“Honestly, I would give it an A,” the world No. 53 said when asked to grade her performance. “It was my first match back since January, and even though I probably didn’t play the best tennis as possible, I think that the attitude and effort was an A.
“I’m just out here having fun. Obviously, I want to win, but I’m not going to put pressure on myself to win anything. I just try my best out there on the court every day.”
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.