Serena shines at Desert Smash charity event before Indian Wells

1m read 07 Mar 2018 7y ago
Serena Williams (Getty)

CALIFORNIA, USA - Serena Williams continued her return to the game as star attraction at Desert Smash at the La Quinta Resort in California on Tuesday.

Flying straight in from her appearance at the Tie Break Tens in New York City the previous evening, Williams helped host proceedings at the annual event alongside former basketball players Lisa Leslie and Jason Collins and actors Boris Kodjoe and AnnaLynne McCord.

An array of stars from celebrity and sport mix on court at this annual charity event, which takes place ahead of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

The highlight of the afternoon was Williams taking part in a dance-off with fellow WTA player Victoria Azarenka, while other players involved included Bob and Mike Bryan, Jim Courier, Sam Querrey and Hyeon Chung.

Former Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci was also in attendance, along with Dr. Phil, singer Travis Atreo, actors Colton Haynes, Luis Guzman, J.B. Smoove, Omar Miller and Skye Marshall and comedians Amanda Cerny, Wanda Sykes and King Bach, among others.

Williams, who has not played competitively at singles since winning the Australian Open in 2017, plays her first-round match at Indian Wells on Thursday evening, when she takes on Zarina Diyas. The American, unseeded this year, previously won the tournament in 1999 and 2001.