NEW YORK — Serena Williams posted a record 102nd win at the US Open with a 7-5, 6-3 first-round victory over fellow American Kristie Ahn on Tuesday, and Britain’s Andy Murray enjoyed a winning return to Grand Slam tennis.
Williams, the third seed, picked up her first straight-sets win since the tour resumed from a five-month coronavirus-triggered hiatus and took sole ownership of the Open Era record for most match-wins in New York, surpassing Chris Evert’s tally of 101.
As she kicked off her quest for a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam crown and chased a seventh US Open win, Williams fired 28 winners, including 13 aces, to overcome Ahn, who had a breakthrough run to the US Open fourth round last year.
“I was really happy with how I fought for every point, no matter how I was playing,” said the 38-year-old Williams, who next faces Russian Margarita Gasparyan.
Earlier on Center Court, Murray rallied back from two sets down and defeated Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
The former world No. 1 was contesting his first singles match at a major since the 2019 Australian Open and his first since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery.
Murray was down a break in the third set, saved a match point late in the fourth, and trailed by a break in the fifth before battling his way to a 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium after nearly five hours of play.
“I think at the beginning of the match I was apprehensive about playing a long match because I haven’t played one for a while and I felt like I was kind of pacing myself,” said Murray, who plays Canadian No.15 seed Felix Auger Aliassime in round two. “Once I got two sets down I had to start putting the afterburners on and managed to get through.”
Williams, who played mixed doubles with Murray at Wimbledon last year, paid tribute to the Scot’s fighting spirit.
“Usually when you’re waiting for a match, someone is down two sets, you root for the person that’s ahead so you can get on the court and get off. I was rooting for Andy the whole time.
“I love his grit. I always said he reminds me a lot of myself. I felt like it was a real gutsy win for him and I was really happy.”
Venus Williams suffered her first-ever opening-round defeat at the US Open, in a record 22 appearances, crashing out to Karolina Muchova 6-3, 7-5. The Czech No.20 seed won the last four games of the match and celebrated with her friend, Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson, who spoke to her via the digital fan wall placed courtside this tournament.
Second seed Dominic Thiem advanced to the second round when his opponent, Spain’s Jaume Munar, retired from their match while trailing 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. His round-two opponent is India’s Sumit Nagal, who claimed his first-ever victory at a Grand Slam 6-1, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 over American Bradley Klahn.
Last year’s semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria was untroubled in his 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 win against American Tommy Paul and gets Hungarian Marton Fucsovics in round two.
Two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza recovered from a slow start to post a third win in three encounters with Japan’s Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-4 at Louis Armstrong stadium.
