| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 29 August-11 September |
| Protection: Every day radio commentaries throughout BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport web site and app, with chosen stay textual content commentaries and match studies on the web site and app |
Serena Williams prolonged her US Open farewell with a gritty opening win on an entertaining evening full of hope and celebration in New York.
Williams, who’s retiring after the event, received 6-3 6-3 in opposition to Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic.
A near-capacity 25,000 crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium willed on their idol and he or she responded in typical vogue.
Williams, 40, will play Estonian second seed Anett Kontaveit within the second spherical on Wednesday.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, who’s one wanting Australian Margaret Court docket’s all-time document, can be taking part in within the doubles alongside older sister Venus, including one other thrilling aspect to what she hopes will likely be a protracted goodbye this fortnight.
Her first task was beating Kovinic, ranked eightieth on this planet, and there was a thunderous noise when she took the primary of three match factors to make sure her singles profession was not over but.
Williams jumped on the spot when Kovinic’s return hit the web, then twirled within the centre of court docket earlier than blowing kisses to her adoring followers.
Williams thrills crowd on evening of celebration
Williams has lengthy been greater than a tennis participant and it was an indication of her standing – as an American icon and one of many world’s most recognisable sport stars – that she introduced her retirement in an essay for shiny vogue journal Vogue.
Though the previous world primary didn’t use the phrase retirement itself, preferring to say she was “evolving away” from the game, there is no such thing as a mistaking her intention is to finish her glittering profession this fortnight at her residence main.
Suitably, for what might have been her closing match, it was an evening of superstar and glamour.
Williams unsurprisingly arrived on court docket to a rapturous reception, moments after the stadium watched a video montage in celebration of what she has achieved as a participant and an individual.
Kovinic had already come out to court docket, leaving her with a protracted – and what should have been a nervous – wait subsequent to her chair.
Movie director Spike Lee, who known as Williams his “little sister” in a video launched earlier on Monday, took half within the coin toss, whereas Vogue editor Anna Wintour, one other shut private pal, was sat in her help field behind the participant’s household.
Different well-known faces picked out by the stadium cameras included former US President Invoice Clinton, soul singer Gladys Knight, boxer Mike Tyson and mannequin Bella Hadid.
Williams’ daughter Olympia, carrying white beads in her hair in a tribute to her mum’s model when she received the 1999 US Open, sat on the entrance row, alongside her dad Alexis and in entrance of grandmother Oracene.
Your complete household jumped to their toes when Williams clinched a victory which can lengthy stay within the reminiscence for many who noticed it.
But it surely was not over fairly but. Tv host Gayle King got here out on to the court docket to guide one other celebration, firstly joined on the microphone by Billie Jean King – one other pioneering American tennis legend who paid a heat tribute – after which Williams herself.
“I did not anticipate any of this,” Williams mentioned. “I all the time should do one of the best that I can. I’ve all the time felt so comfy right here.
“The group was loopy! It actually helped pull me by means of. I used to be actually pumped. I assumed ‘I bought this’.”
How far can Williams go?
After all of the fanfare, the intense enterprise of the tennis started and Williams confirmed all of her aggressive nature in a match that lacked high quality for many elements.
Each gamers seemed overawed by the event, producing a number of double faults and unforced errors in a scratchy first set, earlier than Williams finally took management.
There had been doubts about what situation she can be in, having struggled with a knee harm earlier than being thrashed by British primary Emma Raducanu in Cincinnati.
Williams, now ranked 413th on this planet, began positively as she moved right into a 2-0 lead earlier than Kovinic fought again for a 3-2 benefit to dampen the temper on Ashe.
However the American received the ultimate 4 video games to clinch the opening set and spark extra jubilant scenes.
The second set ominously began with Kovinic hitting one other double fault and though she recovered to carry, Williams continued to place her serve underneath stress.
As soon as Williams broke for a 3-2 lead, it didn’t really feel like she would give up the lead. As she headed in direction of victory, the veteran was transferring effectively, hitting effectively and confirmed loads of high quality.
Now there will likely be one other evening of intrigue when she comes up in opposition to Kontaveit.
The Estonian is ranked second on this planet and, despite the fact that she has not lived as much as that standing, shedding to Williams would ship seismic shockwaves all through the game.
It could additionally enhance the hope of some American followers who’re dreaming – extra by means of emotional nostalgia than reasoned judgment – that their idol can in some way win that elusive twenty fourth main and bow out spectacularly by equalling Court docket’s all-time document.
