Serena Williams starts strong at US Open as tennis world reacts to her Nike commercial

THE tennis world went into a frenzy after Nike released its latest masterpiece paying tribute to tennis superstar Serena Williams.

Serena

SERENA Williams made a triumphant return to the US Open on Monday, opening her bid for a record-tying 24th grand slam title with a 6-4 6-0 first-round victory over Magda Linette.

Williams, a six-time champion at Flushing Meadows, missed last year’s edition as she gave birth to daughter Olympia on September 1.

She was all-business on her return under the floodlights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she has lifted the trophy so many times before.

Linette, the World No. 68 from Poland who was facing Williams for the first time, held her own in the early going.

But Williams broke her in the seventh game of the opening set to gain the upper hand and from there the American superstar rolled on.

“The first set was tight,” Williams, seeded 17th, said. “It was my first match back here in New York so that wasn’t the easiest.

“Once I got settled I started doing what I’m trying to do in practice.

“I think I’m getting there.”

Williams — who reached the final at Wimbledon only to fall short of matching Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 major titles — didn’t face a break point in the 70-minute match, but as her momentum built her emotions burst out with fist-clenched shouts of “come on”.

After Williams held serve from deuce for a 5-3 lead, Linette would hold to force Williams to serve out the set.

From there, it was all Williams as she raced through the second set in 28 minutes.

Williams said she was “a little emotional today” after leaving her hotel room without being able to say goodbye to Olympia, but that didn’t stop her powering into the second round.

“That broke my spirit a little bit,” Williams said of missing her daughter.

She next faces Germany’s Carina Witthoeft, with a possible third-round clash with 16th-seeded sister Venus in the offing.

Serena Williams returned in style.

— AFP

NIKE KICKS ANOTHER SERENA GOAL

Nike keeps crushing it in the Serena Williams stakes.

Days after delivering the perfect response to news she would not be allowed to wear her “catsuit” at next year’s French Open, the sportswear giant released a commercial that sent the tennis world abuzz.

The ad features home video of Williams with her father Richard on a local court in 1991 — when she was just nine-years-old — mixed with footage of her competing at various US Opens as a professional.

Serena and sister Venus were coached by their dad growing up in Los Angeles. He provides the voiceover in the one-minute clip and can be heard teaching, encouraging and congratulating her as he tells his daughter to “take the net” and “keep that nice service motion”.

“Put it away. Just like you want to win. Just like you’re at the US Open,” Richard says.

If you don’t dare to try and chase your dreams, you'll rob yourself the joy of doing it. Don't just dream it. #JustDoIt pic.twitter.com/tjpZzVdP8I

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) August 27, 2018

The commercial was well received. In a tweet, Sports Illustrated called it “one of the best sports ads in recent memory” and fans took to social media to lavish it with praise.

Why yes I am crying watching that Serena Williams Nike commercial.

— Elizabeth Sile (@esile1) August 28, 2018

Nike LOVES Serena. They validate her consistently. They stick with her through all the abuse that the sporting world is always putting her through and refuse to allow anybody to diminsh her excellence.

In case you ever needed to understand loyalty.

— Rogue Poledancer 🎈 (@LeratoMannya) August 27, 2018

Get the tissues ready! Nike and Serena crushed this ad. So inspired by this woman’s nonstop fight for greatness. She’s truly the GOAT. 🐐 🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/A0F7QKGZ0r

— Jason Pollock (@Jason_Pollock) August 27, 2018

One of the best parts about the Nike Serena Williams commercial is when she looks at her father who is cheering during a match... this is my new favorite sports commercial of all-time! So dope 💯💯💯💯 pic.twitter.com/Icx3jAWM8b

— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) August 27, 2018

Whoever’s running Nike’s marketing department should ask for a raise. Its latest masterpiece comes after its pitch-perfect response to comments made about Williams by French Tennis Federation president Bernard Giudicelli last week.

He said Williams’ outfit at this year’s French Open — a skin-tight, black catsuit — would not be tolerated at Roland Garros in the future because “you have to respect the game and the place”.

Williams — who is back on tour after suffering health complications following the birth of Olympia last September — said wearing the kit was “my way of being a superhero” and as Giudicelli’s comments were widely slammed, Nike said what everyone was thinking.

Read: Williams’ fashion choice goes ‘too far’

You can take the superhero out of her costume, but you can never take away her superpowers. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/dDB6D9nzaD

— Nike (@Nike) August 25, 2018

The backlash to the fashion critique looks like it prompted a change of heart from French Open organisers. After talking to the French Federation, Williams said the governing body will likely change its ruling after officials learned the dress was partly designed for health reasons.

The American said it was designed to prevent blood clotting.

While she was permitted to wear it at Flushing Meadows, Williams opted for something different in her first-round clash against Linette.

Serena's night outfit for the #USOpen [getty] pic.twitter.com/amoS7xfovm

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 28, 2018

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