Serena Williams made a triumphant return to the US Open on Monday (August 27), opening her bid for a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title with a 6-4, 6-0 first-round victory over Magda Linette.

Williams, a six-time champion at Flushing Meadows, missed last year's edition as she gave birth to daughter Olympia on September 1.

She was all-business on her return under the floodlights on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court, where she has lifted the trophy six times.

Linette, the world number 68 from Poland who was facing Williams for the first time, held her own in the early going.

But Williams broke her in the seventh game of the opening set to gain the upper hand and from there the American superstar rolled.

“The first set was tight,” Williams, seeded 17th, said. “It was my first match back here in New York so that wasn't the easiest.”

“Once I got settled I started doing what I'm trying to do in practice,” she added.

Rappler

BDST: 1116 HRS, AUG 28, 2018
SI