NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic thinks he came up with a way to get Serena Williams back on the tennis tour: Dare her to do it. A night after Williams stunned the tennis world by showing up to help induct rival Maria Sharapova into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Djokovic said he thought that was “a beautiful moment.”

“It was surprising, but a very nice gesture from Serena to be there for Maria,” Djokovic said Sunday night after winning his first-round match at the U.S. Open. “They had some really intense rivalries and incredible matches over the years.” Then he turned his thoughts to Williams, she of the 23 Grand Slam singles titles, one fewer than Djokovic’s total. Williams left tennis after playing at the 2022 U.S. Open, saying at the time she preferred to think of herself as “ev

See Full Page