U.S. Open: Serena Williams begins quest for 24th Grand Slam title with win

Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Serena Williams started her latest attempt to win a 24th Grand Slam singles title with a win over Kristie Ahn in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, N.Y.

The two Americans split the first 10 games before the third-seeded Williams took control to earn a 7-5, 6-3 win. With the victory, Williams passed Chris Evert with her 102nd singles win at Flushing Meadows -- the most by a woman at the tournament in the Open era.

Williams, who turns 39 this month, hit 13 aces and lost only six points on her first serve.

Williams has won the U.S. Open six times and has been the runner-up in each of the last two years at the event. She can tie Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles trophies with a win in New York.

Also Tuesday, Garbine Muguruza -- the No. 10 seed -- opened the second day of the tournament with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Nao Hibino. Australian Open champion and No. 2 seed Sofia Kenin cruised past Yanina Wickmayer 6-2, 6-2 to advance.

On the men's side, three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray rallied to defeat Yoshihito Nishioka 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4. Murray, who has battled back from multiple injuries and surgeries, dropped the first two sets before mounting a fierce comeback.

"It was a pretty special one to get through," Murray said. "I didn't play my best. There was no one there watching. It was a long five-setter, my first one in a long time. So yeah, it was a great effort to get through."

In other men's action Tuesday, No. 10 seed Andrey Rublev beat Jeremy Chardy in straight sets. Eighth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut also won in three sets over American Tennys Sandgren.

Wild card J.J. Wolf is in the main draw for the first time after upsetting No. 29 seed Guido Pella 6-2, 0-6, 6-3, 6-3. Pella reached the third round of the 2018 U.S. Open and the third round of the Australian Open earlier this year.

Moments from Serena Williams' career

Serena Williams returns the ball to her sister, Venus, during their match at the Lipton Tennis Championship in Key Biscayne, Fla., on March 28, 1998. Venus Williams, defeated her sister 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Photo by Susan Knowles/UPI | License Photo

Seventh seed Williams celebrates her Woman's Single victory over first seed Martina Hingis at the U.S. Open Tennis Championships on September 11, 1999. Williams defeated Hingis 6-3, 7-6. Photo by H.R. Celestin/UPI | License Photo

Sisters and teammates, Venus (L) and Serena Williams hug on the medal stand after receiving their gold medals in the women's doubles at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, on September 28, 2000. They defeated the Dutch pair of Kristie Boogert and Miriam Oremans 6-1, 6-1 in 49 minutes.Photo by Christine Chew/UPI | License Photo

Williams tosses the ball up to serve in her straight sets defeat of Patty Schnyder in day 7 action at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 5, 2004. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI . | License Photo

Andre Agassi (L to R), Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, and Ellen DeGeneres have a laugh while on the court during Arthur Ashe Kids Day in New York City on August 26, 2006. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Williams hits a backhand during her straight sets defeat of Ana Ivanovic at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2006. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams, the fourth seed, challenges a call as she takes on Kateryna Bondarenko in the first set of play at the U.S. Open in New York City, on August 26, 2008. Williams went on to win 6-1, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo

Venus Williams (L), returns the ball to sister Serena in the second set of their quarter-final game at U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2008. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams reacts after a point in her match against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on Day 5 at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 4, 2009. Williams defeated Sanchez 6-2, 7-5. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Venus Williams (L) and sister Serena congratulate one another as they take on Cara Black of Zimbabwe and Liezel Huber in women's doubles finals match at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 14, 2009. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo

Williams slams a return to Maria Sharapova at the Bank of the West Classic at Stanford University in California on July 29, 2011. Williams defeated Sharapova 6-1, 6-3. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams changes sides after the first game in her match against Bojana Jovanovski on Day 2 of the U.S. Open in New York City on August 30, 2011. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

First lady Michelle Obama (L) meets with Serena Williams during the "Let’s Move!" tennis clinic held during the U.S. Open in New York City on September 9, 2011. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo

Williams gets called for a code violation in the second set when she speaks out to chair umpire Eva Asderakia during her match against Samantha Stosur in the Women's Final at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 11, 2011. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serene Williams celebrates winning the women's final against Agnieszka Radwanska at the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 7, 2012. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams does a split after returning the ball in the second set of her three-set victory over Victoria Azarenka in the women's finals at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 9, 2012. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams holds the championship trophy after winning her second French Open women's final match against Maria Sharapova in Paris on June 8, 2013. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams serves to Sloane Stephens in the first set of fourth-round action at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 1, 2013. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo

The sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline as Serena Williams serves to Carla Suarez Navarro at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams returns in her match against Anna Tatishvilli on Day two of the Wimbledon Championships in London on June 24, 2014. Williams won the match 6-1, 6-2. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams reacts during her match against Heather Watson on Day 5 of the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 3, 2015. Williams won the match 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams returns the ball in the Women's Singles Final against Garbine Muguruza on Day 12 of the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 11, 2015. Williams won the match 6-4, 6-4. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI. | License Photo

Serena Williams celebrates after winning a point in the second set of her match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 4, 2015. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams returns a ball to Roberta Vinci in the thirrd set in the semifinals at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 11, 2015. Vinci defeated Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Williams fails to become the first player to complete the calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams attends the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on February 28, 2016. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams prepares to serve during her French Open women's final match against Garbine Muguruza in Paris on June 4, 2016. Muguruza defeated Williams 7-5, 6-4 to win her first French Open Championship. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams returns the ball in her Women's Final match against Angelique Kerber at the Wimbledon Championships in London on July 9, 2016. Williams claimed her 22nd Grand Slam title with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Kerber. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams bounces the ball as she gets ready to serve to Johanna Larsson in the first set of their third round match at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 3, 2016. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian attend the wedding ceremony of Prince Harry of Wales and Meghan Markle in a service at St. George's Chapel inside the grounds of Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on May 19, 2018. Pool photo by Lionel Hahn/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams reacts after defeat from Angelique Kerber in the Women's Final of the Wimbledon Championships on London on July 14, 2018. Kerber defeated Williams 6-3, 6-3. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams jumps rope with kids on the court at Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open in New York City on August 25, 2018. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams hits a forehand in her straight sets victory over Carina Witthoft in the second round of the U.S. Open Tennis in New York City on August 29, 2018. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Fans watch Serena Williams cry on the court between games against Naomi Osaka of Japan in the Women's Final in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 8, 2018. Naomi Osaka won in straight sets and becomes the first Japanese woman in history to win a major championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams stands behind Naomi Osaka holding the championship trophy after defeating Williams in the U.S. Open Women's Final as the crowd boos. Osaka later shared some encouragement Williams offered her amid the chaos of the crowd. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian arrive on the red carpet at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Benefit "Camp: Notes on Fashion" at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams serves during her French Open women's third round match against Sofia Kenin in Paris on June 1, 2019. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams reacts after losing a point during her French Open women's third round match against Sofia Kenin in Paris on June 1, 2019. Kenin defeated Williams 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the fourth round. Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams high-fives doubles partner Andy Murray in their first round mixed doubles match against Alexa Guarachi and Andreas Mies at Wimbledon in London on July 6, 2019. Williams and Murray won the match 6-4, 6-1. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo

Serena Williams waits for the trophy ceremony after losing to Bianca Andreescu in straight sets in the Women's Final at the U.S. Open in New York City on September 7, 2019. Andreescu defeated Williams 6-3, 7-5 to win her first-ever major championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Designer Serena Willams and daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. step out on the runway at the end of the S by Serena Williams fashion show at Metropolitan West 639 during New York Fashion Week: The shows in New York City on September 10, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo