Serena Williams helped 19-year-old prodigy Victoria Mboko beat Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2) 6-2. The 23-time Grand Slam winner returned to competitive tennis for the first since her final appearance at the 2022 US Open. It’s been 1,375 days since she last played, but it looked like she never left. A fully packed Andy Murray Arena welcomed arguably the greatest female tennis player of all time.
Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko Def. Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6(2) 6-2
First Set
The match started with Mboko serving against an energized and motivated Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe.
Mboko and Williams both had some issues very early, losing winnable points. The 44-year-old made amends with an impossibly long reach at the net which gave them an early look at break points in the second game. Routliffe threw in a double fault which handed Williams and Mboko the perfect start to the match.
At 2-0, the chair umpire signaled the 44-year-old to serve. This was her first competitive serve in over four years, and with the score at 15-30, she delivered a 105 miles-per-hour serve to make it 30-30.
Williams continued where she left off by hitting a 113 mph serve, and Mboko was there to smash the return to give them a comfortable 3-0 lead in the opening set.
Melichar-Martinez was next to serve, and she held serve well by losing only one point.
Mboko was back on serve at 4-2, down 15-30 on serve. The 23-time Grand Slam winner hit a brilliant volley to level the game.
The match took a twist moments later. A double fault from Serena Williams gave Melichar-Martinez and Routliffe the break back. There was complete silence from the crowd. Game on.
After several holds, Williams slammed down a 120mph serve to record the fastest serve of the match, which helped them hold serve and lead 6-5.
Melichar-Martinez once again held serve to force a tie-break.
Mboko returned a brilliant serve from Erin Routliffe and then a double fault from Routliffe handed Williams and Mboko a comfortable 3-0 lead in the tie-break.
Another double fault from Melichar-Martinez saw Moko serving at 5-2 for the set. The 19-year-old held serve twice, giving them the first set 7-6(2).
Second Set
Melichar-Martinez was serving in the first game of the second set, which was temporarily interrupted by a net malfunction. She went on to hold serve comfortably.
Mboko responded by also comfortably holding serve.
The next game included a controversial review about whether the ball hit Melichar-Martinez’s hand, and Williams and Mboko went on to get the break and lead 2-1.
Williams’ big serves proved to be her biggest weapon once again as she delivered an 118 mph serve before Mboko finished off with a backhand to give them a comfortable 3-1 lead.
The second break came in the sixth game when Mboko’s big forehand proved too hot to handle for Routliffe.
While Williams was serving for the match at 5-2, Mboko hits a drop shot winner and Williams followed it with an ace. The pair closed out the match and won the second set 6-2.
Williams doesn’t look like someone who hasn’t played competitive tennis for over four years. She still possesses the raw power.
Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko will face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the next round.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
