Serena Williams, Ons Jabeur reach Eastbourne doubles semis

Serena Williams stepped up her comeback as the American star powered to a second successive victory in the Eastbourne doubles with her partner Ons Jabeur on Wednesday. Williams and Tunisia's Jabeur defeated Shuko Aoyama and Chan Hao-ching 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon warm-up event at Devonshire Park. Serena, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, is playing her first tournament since she made a tearful, injury-enforced exit from Wimbledon last year.

Williams, 40, had initially looked rusty on her first appearance for 12 months in Tuesday's victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo and Marie Bouzkova. But she grew into that match and was more like her old self in the second step on her comeback trail. It took only two minutes for the American to send down an ace before several clinical volleys provided the first break.

The opening set was wrapped up in 25 minutes and another break inspired by Serena in the ninth game of the second set put them on the brink of victory. One more ace for Williams' tally helped get her and Jabeur over the line and they are now just two victories away from securing the title. "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. Quizzed on how she celebrated yesterday, Serena she went for a dip in the nearby sea on the south-coast. "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," she said. Before Williams made the surprise announcement of her return last week, rumours of retirement had swirled around her for several months.