"I think we played much better today" - Serena Williams on advancing to Eastbourne doubles semifinal

Serena Williams resumed her comeback on the WTA tour after a one-year hiatus by reaching the semifinals of the Eastbourne International on Wednesday, teaming up with Ons Jabeur to record another victory.

The duo recorded a 6-2 6-4 quarterfinal victory over the pairing of Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching, working like a well-oiled machine to advance after an hour and five minutes. Williams and Ons had a much more difficult time in their previous match, as the barely got by the formidable team of Marie Bouzkova and Sara Sorribes Tormo, requiring a match-tiebreak in which they erased a match point before prevailing in Williams' first match back.

“I think we played together much better today although I felt we played really well together yesterday. Ons really helped me out playing so good,” Williams said on court after the victory.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion announced her return to competitive tennis last week when she indicated she would be competing at this summer's Wimbledon Championships. Williams drew even more attention by entering the doubles event at Eastbourne, teaming up with World No.3 Ons Jabeur for the first time as she prepares for her return to Grand Slam tennis.

Quizzed on how she celebrated yesterday, the seven-time Wimbledon champion joked she went for a dip.

Williams said with a smile: “I went to the beach and for a swim like everyone here in the cold water, no, no way. I didn’t do much. I just played with my baby (Olympia). She is so fun.”

Jabeur and Williams are set to return to Devonshire Park on Thursday for their last-four encounter.

“I didn’t know we are in the semi-final. It is super fast but it is great for us,” Jabeur insisted.