Serena Williams withstood a "rough and rowdy" challenge from 17-year-old American wildcard Caty McNally at the US Open on Wednesday to keep her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title intact.
Williams, a six-time champion in New York, recovered from dropping the opening set to prevail 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 and set up a third-round showdown with either 29th seed Hsieh Su-Wei or Karolina Muchova.
McNally, who hadn't been born when Williams won her first Slam at the 1999 US Open, threatened a struggling Williams from the start before the 37-year-old won nine of the last 11 games to escape under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
also read
- End of Big Three era? Novak Djokovic out of US Open, faces title drought for the first time since 2017
- US Open: Alcaraz's second-round loss ends his 15-match Grand Slam win streak
- Coco Gauff wins the US Open for her first Grand Slam title at age of 19, beats Aryna Sabalenka
- US Open: Djokovic to face Medvedev in final
- US Open: Coco Gauff tops Muchova to enter final
Meanwhile, defending US Open champion Novak Djokovic complained of feeling "quite rough and unpredictable" as a nagging shoulder problem hampered him during Wednesday's second-round win over Juan Ignacio Londero.
The world number one received medical treatment to his left shoulder throughout the match on his way to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 win and said he feared the injury could have forced him to retire.
"It was not easy to play with this kind of sensation, to be honest. I did not experience that too many times in my career," Djokovic said.
"I had obviously, you saw, a medical timeout. At changeovers, I tried to use within the rules as much as I can physiotherapy and medical help. That has definitely helped me stay in the match.
"The way it has started for me, especially midway through the first set, I didn't know if I would be able to finish the match."
Djokovic, who is attempting to become the first back-to-back men's champion here since Roger Federer won from 2004-2008, said the problem affected both his serve and backhand. He also revealed it was an issue he has been dealing with for "quite a while".
Top seed Djokovic, who has won four of the past five majors, and 16 overall, will play the winner between 27th seed Dusan Lajovic and American Denis Kudla in the third round on Friday and suggested he would "freeze" his arm for the next 48 hours in the hopes of recovering.