By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Serena Williams enjoyed a comprehensive straight sets opening round win against Ekaterina Makarova at the US Open.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
World No. 1 Serena Williams, as often in her long career, posted an efficient and comprehensive opening round win at the US Open.
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The result was perhaps even more impressive given the many days of speculation before the match about her shoulder issue that has bothered Williams since Wimbledon and during the Summer Games in Rio.
Williams faced off against Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova. The lefty Russian defeated Williams several years ago at the Australian Open. The two women also faced off in the 2014 US Open semifinals when Williams went on to win the title. Makarova, though unseeded, poised a potential tricky opening round opponent.
The six-time champion looked and played sharp right form the start. With a solid opening service game, Williams put to rest any questions on if she could summon her trademark serve when needed.
“I got off to a fast start because I knew she was a really tough opponent,” Williams told ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi. “I didn’t want to start out slow so I just wanted to get some momentum.”
Williams’ strong serving continued as she fired down several aces and big serves near or over 120 MPHs.
“The best part of my serve is I don’t think. I just think ‘ace’”,” Williams said to the ESPN team after the match.
While Makarova also enjoyed several easy service holds, the former top 10 Russian never could make inroads in Williams’s service games. Williams secured the first service break for 4-2 after Makarova hit a forehand long.
A few games later, Williams fired down back to back aces to seal the set 6-3.
The second set proved almost a mirror of the opening set. Makarova had to keep serving well just to stay in touch with the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Makarova often committed an unforced error in order to keep up with the pace of Williams’s groundstrokes.
Williams earned another service break to go up 3-2 thanks to one of those Makarova errors.
A few games later, Williams jumped out to a 0-40 lead on Makarova’s serve to earn her first match points. Makarova saved the first two, but Williams would hit a backhand winner behind her opponent to finish off the 6-3 6-3 win in just over an hour.
In all, Williams struck 12 aces included in her 27 winners. Williams never faced a break point all night.
While speaking to ESPN after the match, Williams revealed that she has been doing a lot of rehab and stretching to keep her shoulder in the best shape possible.
“I just have to keep my shoulder loose and keep it really really warm so I can go in there and feel good. It hasn’t been fun as Mary Joe (Fernandez) knows. We were fighting and struggling at the Olympics. But it’s at this point I did everything I could and if it didn’t work then at least I know I did everything I could to strengthen and get better.”
Williams still finds herself trying to hang on to her No. 1 ranking.
Because she is defending points from last year’s semifinal, Williams will have to potentially go deep in the event again and also wait on results from Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza, and Agnieszka Radwanska who each could climb to the top spot based on their results.
Williams will next face Vania King in the second round.