American tennis player Serena Williams, who is likely to say goodbye to her professional career at the US Open Grand Slam at the age of 40, has advanced to the second round on concrete courts at Flushing Meadows.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner beat Danka Koviničová of Montenegro twice 6:3 to a standing ovation from the home crowd and will play at least one more singles match.
In the next round, she will face world number two Anett Kontavitova from Estonia.
“I wanted to do my best,” Williams said after the match on the court. “In addition, I always feel very confident on this court.” “Being here means a lot to me,” she added.
The six-time winner of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium was backed by former US President Bill Clinton, actor Hugh Jackman and former boxer Mike Tyson. Her husband and four-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia were also in attendance.
Against Kovinichova, the 80th player in the world, Williams started the match awkwardly and lost 2:3 early after losing Arsenal. After that, the American won the next four games in a row to take the first set.
In the second set, the American star maintained a 100% success rate and broke her opponent twice again, and after an hour and 42 minutes she was able to enjoy the applause of more than 23,000 fans of the audience.
Despite six double faults, she scored nine aces and 23 aces in the match.
