Serena loses during return at Fed Cup win

Serena Williams had said her return to tennis this weekend at the Fed Cup would represent the “start of a long process.” Her first match in over a year showed how far she has to go.

In Williams’ first competition since giving birth five months ago, she and her sister Venus lost 6-2, 6-3 to Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands in a Fed Cup doubles match in Asheville, N.C.

The U.S. already had clinched a victory in the best-of-five event thanks to a pair of singles victories by Venus Williams. Earlier Sunday, Venus defeated Richel Hogenkamp 7-5, 6-1 to give the U.S. a decisive 3-0 lead in its best-of-five matchup.

The doubles loss merely narrowed the final score to 3-1. The U.S. advanced to a World Cup semifinal April 21-22 at France, which defeated Belgium 3-2.

Open Sud de France: In an all-French final, second-seeded Lucas Pouille rolled over Richard Gasquet 7-6 (2), 6-4 in Montpellier for his fifth career ATP title.