ASHEVILLE, UNITED STATES (AFP) - Serena Williams lost her long-awaited comeback match, a dead-rubber doubles tie alongside sister Venus Williams, in an anti-climactic finish to the United States' Fed Cup clash against the Netherlands on Sunday (Feb 11).

The Williams sisters lost 6-2, 6-3 to the Dutch pairing of Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs, with Serena appearing particularly slow on her feet and rusty after more than a year away from the sport.

The loss took some of the shine off the United States' otherwise decisive victory, leaving the final score 3-1 for the defending champions.