Serena Williams is not ready to say goodbye just yet.
In her first match at what was expected to be the last US Open — and last tournament — of her remarkable playing career, Williams overcame a shaky start to overwhelm Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3 in a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium with an atmosphere more akin to a festival than a farewell.
Early, Williams was not at her best. There were double-faults. Other missed strokes, missed opportunities. She went up 2-0, but then quickly trailed 3-2.
Then, suddenly, Williams looked a lot more like someone with six championships at Flushing Meadows and 23 grand slam titles in all.
She rolled through the end of that opening set, capping it with a service winner she reacted to with clenched fists and her trademark cry of "come on!"
The more than 23,000 in attendance rose for a raucous standing ovation.
There would be more, as Williams carried that terrific level into the second set against world number 80 Kovinic, a 27-year-old from Montenegro.
Williams will continue to play for now, facing number 2 seed Anett Kontveit of Estonia on Wednesday.
More to come.
