Serena Williams won her first match at the US Open on Monday to prolong what could be the final tournament of her career.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner went all out to beat Montenegro opponent Danka Kovinic with a score of 6-3, 6-3. World number one Williams won just one match on the full year tour and her ranking dropped to 605.
That form prompted Williams to reveal that she was about to retire from the sport she played her first professional game in 1995.
On Monday, Williams, who arrived on the court in a diamond-encrusted black dress and jacket that sparkled in the lights, made it through an intense first game to keep serving.
The American star brought the audience to his feet with a break score for 2-0, after coming down to score the winning goal.
Kovinic, the world No. 80, has had a solid year at the Slams, reaching the third round of the Australian and French Opens.
The 27-year-old headed back with a break of his own and took the lead 3-2.
However, Williams buried the number of fouls – she committed six double fouls in the opener – leveling and then racing through the next three games to claim the first set.
Another break for 3-2 came in the second set thanks to crisp hits from the end of the field.
A game of serving love gave the American a 5-3 lead, and the final break of the night gave her the win.
She celebrated with a small hit on the baseline and a wide grin.
