Farewell must wait: Serena Williams wins and moves into second round of US Open

Monday’s day at the US Open left several postcards. In the case of the Chileans, the triumphs of Alejandro Tabilo and Christian Garin, and the defeat of Nico Jarry. Added to this is the shattering defeat of Stéfanos Tsitsipás against the Colombian Daniel Elahi Galán. However, the eyes of the world were on the duel between Serena Williams and Danka Kovinić, this after the American, winner of 23 Grand Slam titles, will announce its withdrawal from the activity once its participation in New York ends .

In the presence of her granddaughter Olimpia, Serena beat the player from Montenegro without too many setbacks. She won the first set with a 6-3 run, a result she repeated in the second set to secure a win that already leaves her set in the second round of the tournament. In this case, the 41-year-old tennis player will not have an easy task: her rival will be Anett Kontaveit, the second seed of the tournament.

At the end of the meeting, she was approached to say a few words to the crowd who went to accompany her on a day that could have been her farewell. The tennis legend thanked the support and explained the reasons for his retirement: “It was a very difficult decision, because when you are passionate about things it is very difficult to stop doing them (…) But I think it’s time, I have a family, it there are many stages in life, it is evolution. I want to devote more time to my house and to my spiritual part, and I will continue to be as I am” He said to the applause of the audience.

But the business isn’t quite over for Serena Williams. Indeed, in the doubles competition, she will play the first round with her older sister Venus Williams, and a bicycle stroke could cross their path. It is Alexa Guarachi who plays alongside Slovenian Andreja Klepač. If both pairs win their respective duels, they will have to measure their strength in the next phase.