EW YORK — Serena Williams was not about to let Maria Sharapova make a match of this.
So facing a break point early in the second set, Williams conjured up a backhand passing shot so good, so powerful, so precise, that Sharapova had no chance to reach it. Williams watched the ball land in, then raised a clenched left fist toward the night sky.
In her first match at the US Open since last year’s loss in a chaotic, controversial final, Williams stretched her winning streak against Sharapova to 19 matches with a nearly flawless performance that produced a 6-1, 6-1 victory devoid of drama Monday night.
“Every time I come up against her,” Williams said, “I just bring out some of my best tennis.’
Learn mOre About: Serena beats Sharapova for 19th time in row