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Serena Williams opened singles play in the first round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium with a 6-3,

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6-3 victory over Danka Kovini in what is likely her final tennis tournament.

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On Wednesday, Williams will begin doubles play with her sister Venus.

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On Wednesday, Williams will face world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in the singles round of 64. It will be their first professional meeting.

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After struggling with her serve early on Monday, Williams won 10 of the final 13 games against Kovini, 

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 a 27-year-old Montenegrin ranked 80th in the world.

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Williams said after the match, during a ceremony honoring her tennis career, that the vocal crowd of nearly 24,000 people helped her. "It was a crazy crowd," she said.

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Williams double-failed twice in the first game but improved her first serve percentage to 66%. She won 33 of the 43 first serve points she faced.

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In the sixth game of the first set, Kovini appeared to be on the verge of a 4-2 lead.