Williams sisters win to set up clash at Indian Wells

Lucia Bradley

Serena, who lifted her 23rd Grand Slam title in Melbourne a year ago, was then already pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia, who was born in September. I love it. I love her so much. The triumph at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, comes six months after childbirth. She marked the occasion with a gold-toned "S" Serena pin that was available to fans who came to see her play.

"Obviously, I wish it was anybody else in the draw, literally anybody, but that's OK", Serena said.

The 36-year-old Serena took centre stage as she needed just under two hours to dispatch Bertens, of the Netherlands, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 here, Saturday.

Venus and Serena are scheduled to face each other after 2 p.m. ET on Monday, live on the Tennis Channel and streaming online at WatchESPN. She won her opening match at the ETA Indian Wells event with a 7-5, 6-3, victory over Zarina Diyas.

Obasanjo visits Cemetery of 73 people killed by Herdsmen in Benue
He had earlier visited Taraba and Plateau states and expected to travel to Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers states, in the coming days. He denied insinuations that he overlooked the killings that happened in Benue, saying he is genuinely anxious over them.

Serena was already pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia, who was born on 1 September, when she beat Venus 6-4 6-4 in Melbourne.

"It's a huge difference to play her in the semi-finals or even the quarter-finals or a final as opposed to the third round". In an interview with BBC, Serena said, "It's been hard".

Collins, ranked 116th and making her first appearance in the main draw, is just starting her second year on the WTA Tour.

In 2015 Serena returned however the tournament will always bring back tough memories for both. She said their father, Richard, would probably decide - an insinuation that their matches were rigged. In fact, it's the first time they've met before the Round of 16 since their very first head-to-head matchup more than 20 years ago. Venus enjoyed a resurgent 2017 season, but she began this year with losses to Angelique Kerber in Syndey and Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open. "I don't think my dad wants me to ever stop playing", the 37-year-old, seven-time Grand Slam champion said. She won four of the final five games of the second set, breaking Cirstea three times to close it out.