Two-time US Open champion Venus Williams has secured her place in the second round at Flushing Meadows courtesy of a 6-4 6-7(7) 6-3 win over Monica Puig.
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The 35-year-old, who last won the tournament in 2001, made a disappointing start to the tie and was broken in her first service game.
However, Williams fought back and levelled the scores in the sixth game of the set, before breaking her opponent once again at 5-4 up to take the opening set in 38 minutes.
In the second set, Williams broke first at 5-3 up and looked to serve for the match, but Puig hit back with a break of her own and the two players held on to set up a tiebreak.
Williams took advantage early on in the tiebreak and raced into a 6-3 lead, before Puig dragged herself back into the match and levelled at six-apiece.
The American then wasted another set point at 7-6 up, but Puig hit back and rolled off three winners to take the tiebreak.
Williams quickly regained her composure in the final set, by breaking her opponent in the first game, and she then hold onto her serve on the way to a 6-3 win, to set up a meeting with fellow American Irina Falconi in the second round.
Alex Meyers
