US advances in Fed Cup; Serena Williams loses in doubles

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Serena Williams had said her return to tennis this weekend at the Fed Cup would represent the "start of a long process." Her first match in over a year showed how far she has to go.

In Williams' first competition since giving birth five months ago, she and her sister Venus lost 6-2, 6-3 to Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands in a Fed Cup doubles match Sunday.

The U.S. already had clinched a victory in the best-of-five event thanks to a pair of singles victories by Venus Williams, so this doubles loss merely narrowed the final score to 3-1. The U.S. advanced to a World Cup semifinal April 21-22 at France, which defeated Belgium 3-2 this weekend.