US Open: Serena Williams sets win record as Andy Murray pulls off stunning comeback

Serena Williams posted a record 102nd victory at the US Open with a 7-5, 6-3 first-round success over her fellow American Kristie Ahn on Tuesday, as Britain's Andy Murray enjoyed a winning return to grand slam tennis. Third seed Williams 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. Kicking off her quest for a record-equalling 24th grand slam crown and a seventh US Open trophy this fortnight, Williams fired 28 winners, including 13 aces, to overcome Ahn and arrange a meeting with Russian Margarita Gasparyan. Earlier on centre court, Murray rallied back from two sets down and defeated Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka. Getty @usopen pic.twitter.com/c9P7pIQ0mk — Andy Murray (@andy_murray) September 1, 2020 The former world number one was playing 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. Another milestone for the Serena Williams passes Chris Evert for most singles wins in US Open history (102) pic.twitter.com/GwtQlKb9Ub — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 1, 2020 “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. 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,” said Williams. Comeback. Complete.@andy_murray rallies from two sets down to stun Nishioka and advance to Round 2! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/K7WM4w6V6J — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2020 In a high-quality late match, Kim Clijsters won her first set in eight years but it wasn’t enough to commemorate her return to the US Open with a win, as she fell to Ekaterina Alexandrova. The Belgian three-time champion was contesting her first grand slam clash since 2012 and just her third match since she came out of retirement – for a second time – last February. After producing some incredibly clean tennis to take a one-set lead over the 21st seed, Clijsters was pegged back as Alexandrova won the last six games of the contest to record a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory and set up a second round against American teenager Caty McNally. Another day, another record for one of the greatest to ever do it.@SerenaWilliams I #USOpen pic.twitter.com/6l559C0Bq3 — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2020 “It's a process. That's what I told myself at the start when I took this challenge on, was that it's going to take a lot of hard work and losses. That's part of it,” said the 37-year-old Clijsters. 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. .@SloaneStephens walked out in a Black Lives Matter mask for her match tonight. pic.twitter.com/5TAz7DYbxS — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2020 Last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev stormed into the second round 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 over Argentina’s Federico Delbonis in just one hour and 46 minutes. His upcoming challenge comes in the form of Australia’s Christopher O’Connell. Second seed Dominic Thiem advanced to the second round when his Spanish opponent Jaume Munar retired from their match while trailing 7-6 (8-6), 6-3. His round two opponent is India's Sumit Nagal. Two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza recovered from a slow start to post a third win from three encounters with Japan's Nao Hibino 6-4, 6-4 at Louis Armstrong stadium. A reunion 8 years in the making. Welcome back to the US Open, @Clijsterskim! pic.twitter.com/g3L77Uxv5f — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2020 The Spanish 10th seed dedicated her win to her good friend, Fed Cup teammate and former doubles partner Carla Suarez Navarro, who revealed earlier in the day that she has been diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. “I want her to feel that we are behind her, that I am behind her, and I will go and see her at some point when it is fine,” said Muguruza. A runner-up at the Australian Open in January, Muguruza moves into the second round where she faces Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, who returned to competition for the first time since 2017, and giving birth to a son in 2018. The road to 24 starts now.@serenawilliams I #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ZswfdBrG79 — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin eased into the second round with a 6-2, 6-2 success over Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer and will take on Canadian teenager Leylah Fernandez for a place in the last 32. Victoria Azarenka picked up right where she left off last week by following up her Western & Southern Open title run at the same US Open venue with a smooth 6-1, 6-2 win over Barbara Haas. She will play Aryna Sabalenka in an all-Belarusian second round on Thursday.