US Open 2018: Serena Williams through with first-round victory over Magda Linette
Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Six-time champion Serena Williams made her return to the US Open with a clinical first-round win over Poland's Magda Linette.
Williams, 36, missed her home Slam last year, giving birth to daughter Olympia shortly after the tournament started.
Opening Monday's night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, she won 6-4 6-0 against her 68th-ranked opponent.
The 17th seed will meet Germany's Carina Witthoeft in the second round.
Williams is still on course to meet older sister Venus in the third round, although the prospect of facing world number one Simona Halep - her projected last-16 opponent - has disappeared after the Romanian's shock defeat by Estonia's Kaia Kanepi.
Although she will face tougher challenges, Williams looks well placed to challenge for the record-equalling 24th Grand Slam on the evidence of her victory over Linette.
She put the Pole's serve under pressure in a lengthy third game without being able to convert, going on to break it in the seventh.
After avoiding a brief scare when she was taken to deuce in the following game, she saw out the opening set without facing a break point.
The second set was a different story.
Linette could not cope with her power and accuracy in a 28-minute set, winning just nine points as Williams sealed victory with a 114mph ace out wide.
"It was such a good feeling to be back here - it is one of the best feelings in the world," Williams said.
"The first set was tight, it was my first match back here in New York so it wasn't the easiest.
"Once I got settled I started to do what I've been doing in practise and I felt better.
"I think I'm getting there - I've been feeling great in practice."
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No-one has ever done that before. (Except for like, half the 30+ year old players on the tour. And some of the younger ones too. We don't talk about them though).
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BBC give it a rest. Who gives a fiddlers toss about Williams having a baby. Anyone would think it was unnatural.
No opposition from Linette and she just gave in. The officials need to clamp down on hard on Williams with her grunting and screeching now louder than ever.
"she's one of the great world sporting icons of 21st century."
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Williams is a divisive individual. Her conduct on court towards opponents is often very disrespectful and her conduct towards officials is simply unacceptable. She is a terrible loser and never gracious towards an opponent. Konta destroyed her a few weeks ago and she ignorantly stropped off court.
Did Williams have a baby? It's probably worth repeating in every article about anything she says or does until the end of time.
Just so you all know the BBC insist on telling us that Williams had a baby last year!
Must have been a helluva night cheering on their all time hero to victory.
It may be going on out on a limb here but haz it been investigated whether or not Serena can walk on water?
As the first person ever to have a baby, it might be a possibility.
Can you imagine the tears if she gets beat?
....called Olympia apparently!!
....caused her to miss her home major tournament.....
Keep that to yourselves ok....that doesn't leave this HYS, OK??
;-);-);-);-);-);-);-);-)
Attack attack attack...……………...you stand a chance of rattling her.
Pliskova,Kvitova,Stephens,Bertens and a number of others can attack with shot speed and shot position.....Serena of now aint the Serena of 2 years ago
“Linette allowed Williams to intimidate her with her vicious stare.”
That must be a first. Good start for Serena.
The beeb and proper journalism seem to have parted company. Is this produced by software stuck in the same old loop
Oh yeah and her older sister is Venus Williams
"...Lets hope she meets Konta later on so that she gets another hammering."
Oops, but "Grand slam is a different animal" (Roger Federer).