Tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams have been on a long hiatus, but it appears the sisters are ready to return with a vengeance.

Venus, who hasn’t played in five months due to injury, defeated Andrea Petkovic 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 during Monday’s Eastbourne Championships in England. Serena, who has battled serious illness and hasn’t played since last year’s Wimbledon, is set to take the court for the first time Tuesday.

It’s no coincidence Venus and Serena, both Grand Slam royalty, are back on the scene just before Wimbledon.

The Williams sisters seem determined to show they are still the most dominant players in tennis despite their age and mounting injuries. Venus turns 31 this week, while Serena is 29. While still young in real years, they are considered aging stars in tennis.

Venus took a couple of scary tumbles Monday after recovering from abdominal and hip injuries her last time out. Ironically her opponent, Petkovic, was the same foe she had to retire against during January’s Australian Open. Monday was a much different outcome.

“It was interesting when I drew her,” said Venus, a five-time Wimbledon champion. “It was a tough match for her. That was a little bad luck for her but a great opportunity for me—it felt fitting, I guess. It was just very ironic.”

Serena, meanwhile, is playing for the first time since cutting her foot in Germany last July and then suffering from blood clots on her lungs earlier this year.

Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

(Photo: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)