Serena Williams signalled she is not quite ready for retirement advancing to the second round of the U.S. Open on Monday with a scrappy 6-3 6-3 win over Danka Kovinic.

The victory over the 80th-ranked Kovinic, just her second this year, will be a confidence boost for Williams, but the path to a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam now gets treacherous.

Waiting in the wings is Estonian second seed Anett Kontaveit, who breezed past Jaqueline Cristian 6-3 6-0.8. 

Williams indicated her intention to retire in a Vogue article in early August, saying she was “evolving away from tennis” but never confirming the U.S. Open as her final event.

For tennis fans, however, the message was clear, the U.S. Open would be where she would take her final bow.

The former world number one has played coy, even refusing to rule out next year’s Australia Open. But in a strange post-match ceremony celebrating her career, which was not yet finished, Williams gave the clearest sign that the U.S. Open would indeed be her last tournament.

She expanded on that later in her press conference.

“It’s extremely difficult still because I absolutely love being out there. The more tournaments I play, I feel like the more I can belong out there. But it’s time for me, you know, to evolve to the next thing,” said Williams.

Pressed if the U.S. Open was her last event, Williams again stepped back from the brink.

“I’ve been pretty vague about it, right? I’m going to stay vague because you never know,” smiled Williams.

(Reuters/NAN)