Six-time winner Serena Williams beat 96th-ranked Kristie Ahn 7-5, 6-3 on Tuesday to continue her pursuit of a record-equaling 24th singles Grand Slam title on day two of the US Open at the Flushing Meadows. 

Williams was able to overcome the loss of her first service game in the opening set to advance at a virtually empty Arthur Ashe Stadium. She told AFP, “I was really happy with how I just fought for every point no matter how I was playing.”

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She had won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open, while being pregnant with daughter Olympia. Since then, she has reached four major finals only to come away empty-handed. 

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World number one Ashleigh Barty, the second-ranked Simona Halep and Canadian Bianca Andreescu, all three who beat Williams in the final last year are absent from the tournament.

While she is currently tied with Chris Evert for most US Open women’s titles, a title win for Williams would also see her become the most decorated women’s player at the US Open in the modern era. 

On the other hand, Andy Murray battled back from two sets down to progress to the second round of the US Open. Playing in his first singles Grand Slam in 18 months because of injury and the coronavirus pandemic, Murray dug deep to prevail in a 4hr 39min bruiser against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, winning 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.