With Monday night's victory, Serena Williams defied time, rust and her own frustration to extend her career at least one more round. She has never lost a first-round match at the U.S. Open, bringing her mark since 1998 to 21-0.
So every aspect of Williams’s game, apart from experience and sheer will, was in question when she took the court Monday against the hard-hitting Kovinic. Her next hurdle is apt to be considerably higher: a second-round match Wednesday against world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit, 26, of Estonia.
It was unclear in the immediate aftermath of Williams’s victory the precise ramifications of her statement, in aWill she retire at the conclusion of this U.S. Open? At the end of this season? Will she ever announce a firm retirement date or leave the door ajar, as many pros before her have done, in case she has a change of heart?
The capacity crowd of roughly 24,000 took no chances on missing the moment and seized the occasion to shower her with earsplitting cheers and shouts of love, appreciation and respect for a career’s worth of entertainment and achievement.It was hardly smooth sailing for Williams, who has long been hailed as having the greatest serve in women’s tennis. From the opening game, she struggled mightily with her ball toss and plowed one serve after another into the net.
The stadium cracked with the electricity of a Broadway opening when Williams’s name was announced. She strode out to a standing ovation — a shimmering star in a black cape over a black figure-skating-inspired dress with long sleeves and flouncy skirt. Every layer of her outfit, as well as her hair, was covered with crystals. On her feet were special edition, diamond-crusted Nikes with a diamond-laden swoosh along the heel.
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