Serena Williams wins US Open first-round tie against Magda Linette
Serena on course to face sister Venus in third round at Flushing Meadows
Tuesday 28 August 2018 13:29, UK
Serena Williams took the first cautious step towards a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title with a 6-4 6-0 first-round win over Magda Linette on Monday as an excited US Open crowd welcomed the new tennis mother back to the 'Big Apple'.
It was not the imposing performance many have come to expect from Williams as the six-time champion continued to scrape the rust off her game following the birth of her first child.
"It is such a great feeling to be back out here," said Williams. "It is one of those feelings I only get here in New York."
Telling the crowd that her spirit was broken after not saying goodbye to her daughter Olympia before leaving for her match, Williams displayed little appetite for a fight during an uneven opening set until she finally seized control with a break to go 4-3 up.
Williams, the winner of 72 career singles titles, moved in quickly to deliver the knockout punch, breaking the 68th-ranked Pole to open the second.
The American showed no hesitation storming through the second set and finishing off her opponent with a thundering ace.
The Williams sisters bridged the afternoon and evening sessions on a steamy Arthur Ashe with Venus providing the opening act of the twin bill, grinding out a 6-3 5-7 6-3 victory over another former champion, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, before handing the stage over to her younger sibling.
The wins put the sisters on a collision course, leaving them just one victory away from a third-round showdown.
"There's still several matches to play before you're there," said Williams, about a possible meeting with her sister. "Right now, I just feel like I'm on the road to getting better."
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Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Laver Cup in September while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports. But first, we will be across the final major of the year in New York as the US Open gets underway on August 27, right through to the final with live blogs, reports, features and reaction.
