Serena Williams has left the door open for future tournaments after putting on an emphatic display during her first round singles victory at the US Open.
The 40-year-old announced earlier this month that the US Open would very likely be her last tournament, but she will have at least one more match at Flushing Meadows after casting aside Montenegrin player Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3.
For now Williams has everyone guessing if she will retire after the US Open as she potentially hinted otherwise in her post-match press conference. She said: "I've been pretty vague about it, right. I'm going to stay vague because you never know."
Williams is set to bring about an end to a 27-year career in professional tennis. However, she showed no sign of fatigue during an impressive straight sets win over Kovinic dominating the court.
The American star had won just one singles match since the French Open last spring and, after announcing her retirement, Williams lost 6-4, 6-0 to Emma Raducanu in Cincinnati during a US Open warm-up tournament. However, her improved performance against world number 80 Kovinic has given Williams some belief.
Williams added: "The more tournaments I play, I feel like the more I can belong out there. That's a tough feeling to have, and to leave knowing, the more you do it, the more you can shine.
"But it's time for me to evolve to the next thing. I think it's important because there's so many other things that I want to do."
Williams will now meet Estonian second seed and world number two Anett Kontaveit in the second round on Thursday. The Williams sisters will then partner, for potentially the final time, in the women's doubles.
Serena Williams, who has won six singles titles at Flushing Meadows, had a heroes welcome for her first round match, which is expected to continue if she remains in the tournament.
Williams embraced the Flushing Meadows reception as a post-match ceremony saw her congratulated by Billie Jean King and Oprah Winfrey.
"I think when I walked out, the reception was really overwhelming," Williams added. "It was loud and I could feel it in my chest. It was a really good feeling. It's a feeling I'll never forget. That meant a lot to me."
