Venus Williams paid tribute to Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen after the American suffered her heaviest-ever defeat at the US Open on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old tennis legend was handed a wildcard to compete at Flushing Meadows and was originally due to face world No.2 Paula Badosa in the first round but after she pulled out due to injury, Williams played Minnen instead.
Williams, who lifted the US Open singles trophy in 2000 and 2001, headed to New York in good spirits having registered one of her biggest wins in years at the Cincinnati Open earlier this month, stunning world No.16 Veronika Kudermetova.
But the seven-time major champion, currently ranked world No.410, was unable to make it past the opening round as world No.97 Minnen recorded a 6-1 6-1 victory at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Williams, who was taking part in a record-extending 24th US Open having made her debut in 1997, said: ‘I have to give credit to my opponent, there wasn’t a shot she couldn’t make.
‘I don’t think I played badly, it was just one of those days where I was unlucky. I was really happy to be here. I love playing here and I really gave it my all today.
‘It was really great to hear the support [from the home crowd]. I know the fans have been here for me forever, so that’s fantastic to still have that support even more than ever. So it’s a beautiful thing, and I love the Open.’
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Meanwhile, in the men’s singles, Carlos Alcaraz has joined fellow title favourite Novak Djokovic in the second round.
The Spanish world No.1 was handed a walkover against Dominik Koepfer while leading 6-2 6-3 and he will next face South African Lloyd Harris.
Djokovic, meanwhile, takes on Bernabe Zapata Miralles of Spain after he eliminated Alexandre Muller in the first round.
Alcaraz was quizzed about his outfit choice after getting past Koepfer and admitted that he was inspired by his tennis hero Rafael Nadal.
‘Honestly, when I wear the [no] sleeves, I was thinking about Rafa when he wore that,’ Alcaraz said. ‘He won that US Open, right? I love to wear that sometimes in some specific tournaments. Here in the US Open, I [was] supposed to play [in a sleeveless top] last year. This year it’s a good, good outfit – so I love it.
‘Obviously [Koepfer’s injury] not the best way to get through to another round. But I have to say for myself that I was playing great, I was playing really well on court. Hopefully I can keep the same level in the next round.’
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