She may be chasing history, a lone major away from Margaret Court and her exalted record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, but Serena Williams still has time to root for friends and family.
As expected, she was seen in Arthur Ashe Stadium cheering on Venus during her older sister’s opening-round matchup with Czech Karolina Muchova. But she was also on-hand to back her one-time doubles partner Andy Murray, who many thought would never play at this level again.
The 2012 US Open champion—having undergone hip surgeries in 2018 and 2019, nearly retiring last year—roared back from two sets down to defeat Yoshihito Nishioka, 4-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4, in four hours and 38 minutes in Ashe.
Said Serena, who was next up on the stadium court: “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. [But] I was rooting for Andy the whole time. I really wanted him to win.
“I was really happy for him,” Williams said of her 2019 Wimbledon mixed doubles partner (pictured below). “I love his grit. I've always loved that, way before we played doubles. I always said he reminds me a lot of myself. I'm just a big fan. It was really good, because I know what it's like to be down, I know what it's like to be injured, I know what it's like to be counted out. I felt like it was a real gutsy win for him and I was really happy.”
Countrywoman Johanna Konta praised Murray’s comeback, too, saying, “He's a champion of Grand Slams and gold medals because of the challenger he is. He's so incredibly tenacious.”
Sloane Stephens, in jest, wasn’t as kind: “Andy Murray was dragging me today,” she quipped. “I was like, ‘Seriously, dude? Get off the courts! You're taking too long!’”
Watch: Serena Williams' Round 1 press conference
