Serena Williams progressed into the second round with a regulation 6-1, 6-1 win over Coco Vandeweghe in the first round of the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows.
Williams, the favorite for the tournament in New York, rarely put a foot wrong in the match which lasted under an hour, but despite the easy win, the American said she had struggled with the windy conditions. "I usually gauge the wind by my hair," the Wimbledon and Olympic champ said. "If it's really going forward I'm thinking, it's really windy.
"I mean, the match was so weird, the conditions were so tough, I couldn't really play my game. She couldn't really play her game. It's not the best opportunity to grade yourself."
Williams, whose sister Venus also stormed into the next round, said she believes she is playing the best tennis currently in the women's game, a claim which nobody can really argue with. "Of course I believe that," Williams said. "I think there's a number of players on this tour, a few players who believe that.
"I don't care about the ranking. I've been number one. It's cool. But my thing is just to be the best player. If that means I'm winning and I'm not number one, that's fine."
Williams, at 30, has been around the block quite a bit and already has 14 Grand Slams to her name; the American veteran is enjoying her mentoring role with compatriot Sloane Stephens, who upset former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, earlier, in the first round. "She's a great person and an amazing player," Williams said. "She's playing so smooth.
"She looks like she gives no effort when she plays. She's such a beautiful, beautiful player and yes, I embrace that.
"I hope I can teach her some things. We can feed off each other. She can teach me a few things -- maybe how to be calm on the court."
