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Djokovic and Serena roll at the US Open

Serena Williams of the US serves to Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia during their Women’s Singles Round 1 match at the 2015 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on August 31, 2015. PHOTO | AFP

What you need to know:

The 33-year-old American chases the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and a 22nd career major title to match Graf’s Open Era record, two shy of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time mark

New York. Three-time defending champion Serena Williams launched her quest for a historic title Monday by overwhelming 86th-ranked Russian Vitalia Diatchenko and advancing to the second round of the US Open. The world number one was a 6-0, 2-0 winner after only 30 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium when Diatchenko retired with a left foot injury, advancing Williams into a second-round match against Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens.

“If I can just stay relaxed and stay in the points and stay calm and happy out there, I have to look at it as I have nothing to lose,” Williams said.

The 33-year-old American chases the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and a 22nd career major title to match Graf’s Open Era record, two shy of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time mark.

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Williams praised the loud New York crowd, which has adored her since she captured her first major title at the 1999 US Open as a teen prodigy. “I felt the support and love on this journey and milestone I’m trying to take one match at a time,” Williams said. “I feel so good. I’m so ready. I’m at home, where it all began for me in ‘99. It all feels great.”

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and eighth seed Rafael Nadal also cruised into the second round on the men’s side but Japanese fourth seed Kei Nishikori crashed out after his US Open runner-up effort last year.

Djokovic needed only one hour and 11 minutes to capture a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Brazil’s Joao Souza.

“There’s something I love about number one for sure,” said Djokovic, who plays Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer next. (AFP)

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