Serena Williams begins US Open with a convincing singles win

Williams double-faulted twice within the first recreation however ultimately upped her first serve proportion to 66%. She received 33 of 43 first serve factors.

A key second got here within the sixth recreation of the primary set when Kovinić appeared on the verge of a 4-2 lead. However a Williams shot that appeared lengthy and broad was neither, nipping the again of the baseline and out of doors fringe of the singles sideline. It was the primary of 11 straight factors for Williams as she coasted the remainder of the best way.

It was Williams' third match since saying she is going to "evolve away from tennis."

"I've by no means preferred the phrase retirement. It would not really feel like a contemporary phrase to me. I have been pondering of this as a transition, however I wish to be delicate about how I exploit that phrase, which implies one thing very particular and essential to a neighborhood of individuals," Williams stated in a Vogue article revealed earlier this month.

"Perhaps the perfect phrase to explain what I am as much as is evolution. I am right here to inform you that I am evolving away from tennis, towards different issues which can be essential to me," she stated.

At her post-match information convention, she was requested if that is undoubtedly her final match.

"Yeah, I have been fairly obscure about it, proper?" she stated with a smile. "I will keep obscure since you by no means know."

However earlier on the court docket, Williams, 40, stated it was a tough determination to maneuver on.

"I feel if you're enthusiastic about one thing and you're keen on one thing a lot, it is at all times laborious to stroll away," she stated. "Generally I feel it is laborious to stroll away than to not. That is been the case for me."

When requested by Gayle King what successful will likely be for her sooner or later, Williams pointed to her enterprise capital firm and likewise stated she needs to work on her religious life.

Williams' singles win was witnessed by her husband, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughter, Olympia, with the teenager sporting white beads in her hair, harking back to Williams' look when she received the primary of her six US Open titles as a youngster in 1999.

"I sit up for waking up and simply being like, OK, I haven't got to run to the court docket as we speak," Williams stated. "I sit up for simply being a mother. She's such a great lady. I simply wish to be a great mother to her."

Additionally on Monday, Daria Snigur of Ukraine, who received qualifying matches to get into the match, upset No. 7 seed Simona Halep of Romania in three units 6-2, 0-6, 6-4.

"This match for Ukraine, for my household, for all followers who supported me. I wish to say thanks all," an emotional Snigur stated.

It was Snigur's first-ever Grand Slam match at this degree. She received the Wimbledon ladies' singles title in 2019.