Williams sister act through to second round

NEW YORK: World number one Serena Williams opened her US Open account with a tidy 6-3 6-3 win over Ekaterina Makarova yesterday to join her sister Venus in the second round of the year’s final Grand Slam.

Williams, whose status as world number one is under attack from several fronts, delivered a message that she will not be surrendering the top spot without a fight, needing just 63 minutes to dispatch the 29th-ranked Russian.

Germany’s Angelique Kerber and Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, who have both beaten Williams in Slam finals this season, along with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, will all be eyeing the number one ranking should the American’s bid for a 23rd Grand Slam title stall.

Williams has owned the number one spot since Febuary 18, 2013, and will extend her streak to 186 consecutive weeks by the end of the US Open fortnight, tying the WTA record held by Steffi Graf.

Back on Arthur Ashe Stadium court for the first time since a shock loss to Italy’s Roberta Vinci in last year’s US Open semi-finals, Williams made quick work of Makarova to follow the lead of her sister Venus.

Sixth-seeded Venus had provided the opening act for sister Serena when she outlasted Ukraine’s Kateryna Kozlova 6-2 5-7 6-4 before turning over the Arthur Ashe Stadium court to her topseeded sibling.

The Flushing Meadows spotlight is once again firmly fixed on Serena as she chases an Open Era, record-smashing 23rd Slam title with concerns over her right shoulder, believed to be a factor in her third-round singles loss at the Rio Olympics.

As always at the US Open, what the world number one was wearing attracted as much attention as her performance. Williams sported a black tennis dress with cutouts revealing her muscular shoulders.

“It’s a part of the design,” said Williams. “It’s just the latest and greatest accessory.”

The 34-year-old American took something off her big serve, but showed no signs of distress as she blasted 12 aces past Makarova, a player who on occasion has given her problems, beating her in the fourth round of the 2012 Australian Open.

As usual, history beckons Williams who is bidding for a seventh US Open victory that would surpass the Open Era record she shares with Chris Evert.

But whether it is the world number one ranking or another record at stake, Williams had the same answer.

“I don’t answer those questions,” flatly stated Williams, who will next face American wild card Vania King, a 7-6(2) 6-3 winner over Germany qualifier Antonia Lottner. – Reuters