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Just look at that determination.
That's what the tour has been missing for nearly a year.
A woman determined to fight for every point, no matter the score, no matter how good or bad her play, displaying a will to win deep as desire.
It wasn't always pretty today. Rust fell from her racquet like pollen.
Judging by how full the stands were, it's clear she's the one to watch.
"The only thing bigger than Williams return to tennis would be a UFO landing," said one of the commentators during the match.
"They'd still be taking pictures of Serena," quipped the other.
Neil Harman tweeted that he ran into many folks who'd never attended Eastbourne before.
Despite all the rust falling all over the place, there were moments of vintage brilliance. A running forehand pass fired at an impossible angle, aces that cleaned the lines when under pressure, and crisp forehand volleys that died on the blades.
Tsvetana Pironkova, who beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon last year with her bold backhand and funky forehand, raced out to a 5-0 lead before Serena could find the court. The Bulgarian was threatening to beat both sisters on grass in less than a year.
Serena Williams wasn't having any of that.
So the two-time defending Wimbledon champ tightened her weave and found her range, exhibiting patience off the ground and rushing the net opportunistically.
I'd almost forgotten how fluid her service motion. A magnificent sight for these sore eyes.
Next up is Vera Zvonareva in a rematch of last year's Wimbledon final.
Bring it.
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