Tennis

Serena advances, but Venus falls in Indian Wells return

Published Mar. 12, 2016 1:58 a.m. ET

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INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) Serena Williams capped a festive day for the Williams family at the BNP Paribas Open with an easy 6-2, 6-1 win over qualifier Laura Siegemund of Germany in a second round match Friday night.

That came after Venus Williams lost her first match at the event since 2001, falling 6-4, 6-3 to Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara in front of a sparse, wind-blown crowd that returned after a rain-delay midway through the first set.

Venus Williams played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the first time since she, Serena and father Richard were booed and heckled after Venus withdraw from her semifinal against Serena because of an injury. On Friday, Venus received standing ovations before and after her error-filled, second-round match.

Last year's champion Simona Halep of Romania beat American Vania King 6-1, 6-1.

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