Wednesday 31 August 2016 07:10, UK
Serena Williams insists her shoulder problem is not harming her performance after she dispatched Ekaterina Makarova in the US Open first round.
The World No 1 wore compression sleeves on both arms in Arthur Ashe Stadium but showed no visible sign of weakness as she cruised to a 6-3 6-3 victory over Makarova.
Williams shot 12 aces with her faulty right shoulder and Makarova failed to create a single break point as the American booked a second-round meeting with compatriot Vania King.
"No, I didn't make too many adjustments," Williams said.
"I didn't hit my serves as hard as I normally hit them. I just went for more placement. I didn't go for the big 120s, just the regular."
Williams is bidding to win a 23rd grand slam title at Flushing Meadows, which would take her above Steffi Graf's Open-era record and within one of Margaret Court's all-time best.
She added a note of caution to any optimism about her fitness, however, admitting she increasingly feels pain the day after a match.
"Usually it's the day of (playing that I feel it)," Williams said.
"But as time has progressed, and this past week it's usually been the day after, so that's a really positive thing."
Elsewhere, Eugenie Bouchard crashed out in the first round but said she has not been distracted by her ongoing lawsuit against the tournament.
Bouchard is suing the grand slam and the United States Tennis Association after slipping on a wet changing room floor last year and having to withdraw from the competition.
The Canadian's misery at Flushing Meadows continued as she was beaten 6-3 3-6 6-2 by world number 72 Czech Katerina Siniakova.
