Thrilled 'to just to live in the moment,' Serena Williams begins US Open run with straight-sets win

NEW YORK — Serena Williams' expected retirement will have to wait, for another two days at least. The 23-time major champion, who is playing the final Grand Slam of her 27-year career, won her first-round match, 6-3, 6-3, over Danka Kovinic at the US Open on Monday night.

«You know, I always just got to do the best that I can,» Williams said to the crowd after the match. «I feel so comfortable on this court, in front of everyone here.

»When I step out on the court, I just want to do my best that I can on that particular day. That's really all I can really do."

Since Williams, 40, announced her impending plans to «evolve» from tennis in a first-person essay in Vogue earlier this month, she has been given a farewell tour of sorts, and received standing ovations at both the Canadian Open and the Western & Southern Open.

On Monday night, the sold-out crowd of nearly 24,000 — which included a laundry list of A-list celebrities and notables, including former President Bill Clinton, Spike Lee, Lindsey Vonn, Bella Hadid, Rebel Wilson, Vera Wang, Mike Tyson, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Gladys Knight, Martina Navratilova and even Coco Gauff — was on its feet before Williams even took the court. After a video narrated by Queen Latifah was shown summarizing her legendary career, Williams was introduced to the crowd as the «Greatest Of All Time» to loud cheers that continued during any break in the action throughout the match.

«The reception was really overwhelming,» Williams told reporters. «It was loud and I could feel it in my chest. It was a really good feeling. It's a feeling I'll never forget, so I really — yeah, that meant a lot to me.»

It was Williams' 102nd win at Arthur Ashe Stadium — the most by any player since it opened in 1997