Serena Williams set to continue US Open Last Dance after straight sets win in opening round against Kovinic

Tuesday, 30 August 2022 at 03:09

Serena Williams clenches her fist celebrating a point during her final appearance at the 2022 US Open

Always one for the big occasion, Serena Williams proved that again on Tuesday morning as her Last Dance gathered momentum at the US Open with a straight sets triumph over Danka Kovinic in a much improved display compared to Cincinnati and Toronto.

Williams' farewell tour which will conclude at Flushing Meadows will always be one where her next opponent could be the one to bring the curtain down on the career of the perceived Greatest of all Time but Kovinic wasn't the player to do it on this occasion.

It was a superb win 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round and she will now face Anett Kontaveit on Wednesday who saw off Jaqueline Cristian earlier this evening as the Serena Williams show continues.

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Early nerves from Williams saw two double faults and handed Kovinic a double break point. A good rally saw Serena deter one break opportunity followed by an ace to seal deuce followed by another to bring up advantage which she sealed to hold after a mid court forehand into the net from Kovinic.

A double fault handed Serena a break point opportunity herself and the crowd erupted once more as she stood her ground at the net and put away a superb drive forehand to break at 2-0.

It was yet another game where a break point was brought up with Kovinic having the opportunity again to get into the tie and despite spurning the first one, the first serve blighted Williams and a second one was brought up which was converted as Serena’s forehand this time cascaded into the net and it was 2-1.

After another back and forth game, Kovinic hit an excellent forehand drop shot to reach deuce before bringing up another break point before Williams put a backhand wide allowing the Montenegrin to break at 3-2 but double faults continued to be a problem and after a close line call, she handed a break back to Williams at 3-3 after it looked like a potential 4-2 lead was on the cards.

For the first time in the match, Williams found no issues on her service game as she sealed a 4-3 lead after claiming it 40-0.

Kovinic’s game continued to disappear as Williams made it 5-3 as the former continued to make errors losing nine straight points and despite finally ending the streak, Serena hit back-to-back aces to bring up another set point sealing it after 55 minutes after Kovinic netted a forehand return.

Williams into the second set continued to be in the ascendency as she eased to a 2-2 service game in less than two minutes and from there broke serve after a wild forehand from Kovinic gifted her a 3-2 lead. This was consolidated as she went two games away from the win.

It was another easy service hold for Williams as she went one away from opening her account this year and it was one she sealed with Kovinic unable to offer any resistance on her own serve sending a forehand into the net on triple match point.

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1:12 AM · Aug 30, 2022

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