Big Mamma set to regain her throne!

Last time she played, Serena Williams was on top of the tennis world. She had just defeated Vera Zvonareva in the Wimbledon final to win her 13th Grand Slam title, strengthening her position as the world's number 1. Soon after, she injured her foot by accidentally stepping on broken glass, spending most of last season fighting this recurring problem. Her plans of making a return for the Australian Open suffered a major setback when she was diagnosed with a life threatening pulmonary embolism. After having undergone surgery to remove the blood clot from her lungs, she postponed her comeback, spending time recovery both mentally and physically.

She finally felt ready to play again in Eastbourne, where she her first round opponent was Bulgarian Tsvetlana Pironkova. Serena was rusty in the beginning, losing the first set 6-1. She gradually regained her confidence though, finding her range and managing to turn things around and ensure a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 win. Pironkova, a semifinalist at Wimbledon the last season, was a tough opponent for the American, but the biggest test was to follow. Although she failed it, going out 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 to top-seeded Zvonareva, Serena achieved a decent result this week. Building on this, the two times defending champion looks determined not to lose her title without putting in a fierce battle.

 

While sidelined, Serena enjoyed life to the fullest. The lack of her regular intensive trainings took its toll and, as portrayed in a series of unflattering bikini pictures that circled on the internet, her body was beginning to look rather grotesque. She struggled with her weight throughout her career, but she always managed to come back fitter than ever. The most amazing story happened at the 2007 Australian Open, when a rather fat Williams defy the odds, the mockery and her opponents to win her third crowd. Therefore, I was really curious to see if the American can pull it off again this time. Surprisingly, she did, looking as fit as before, showing no signs of her extended lay off. She may be chubbier than most of the players, but she's always been like this, especially in the last couple of seasons.
Also, her fashion credentials were back to their usual high with her nice Nike outfit. The simple pink dress (pink being one of those colours she always comes back) did the trick once again, perfectly emphasizing her curvy body.

photos:  Socialitelife (x3), GETTY IMAGES