Serena Williams, who took several months off to deal with various physical issues, burst into tears on Tuesday after winning her first Grand Slam match since winning last year's Wimbledon.
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After serving her 13th ace to close out an exciting 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win against French player Aravane Rezai, Williams put her face in her towl and sobbed from courtside. She was still crying as she left the court.
Williams was out for several months because of two foot operations and a treatment for blood clots in her lung.
"I usually don't cry ... but it's just been so hard," said Williams. "I never dreamt I would be here right now. And then to win. I just wanted to win at least one match here."
Williams added, "It's been a disaster year, but I've been praying. To be able to come back at Wimbledon is pretty awesome. I didn't expect to play. And I didn't expect to even do anything. So I'm just excited. I've never cried with joy for anything."
Williams appeared to lose some of her focus during the second set, but she won the final set rather comfortably, winning the last 5 games of the match.
"I kept thinking, 'This is Wimbledon,'" she said.
Williams said that it was the most emotional she ever felt after a match - and she says that it wasn't even about winning.
"For me it wasn't about winning the match," she said. "It was about being out there. ... It just really goes to show if you don't give up, you still have a chance. I guess I proved that I could, that I could. I think that sums it up: I could."
Rezai was touched by Serena's show of emotion.
"It shows she's not a machine, she's a human being," said Rezai. "We all have a heart, we all have emotions. ... If she wins the next two or three matches, I think she can win the tournament."
(Sources: ESPN.com, Associated Press)
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