US Open: Serena Williams salutes sister Venus Williams' courage at the age of 45 - 'I hope to be like you'

Serena Williams on Wednesday penned an emotional tribute to her elder sister Venus Williams, who at the age of 45 played in the ongoing US Open.Although Venus Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, was defeated by No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova in the first round of the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Czech player secured a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 victory in exactly two hours, marking Venus' fourth consecutive first-round exit in New York."Strength, courage, determination, class, perseverance, inspiration… there’s not enough words to describe how proud I am of you @VenusWilliams. P.S. I hope to be like you," Serena wrote on her Instagram handle.Williams, competing in her record 25th US Open singles campaign, struggled early in the match after being broken in the opening game. Despite saving three break points and taking a brief 3-2 lead in the first set, she ultimately conceded it after committing seven double faults.
The American veteran showed resilience in the second set, breaking Muchova early and maintaining control throughout. She hit 10 winners against just five unforced errors and reduced her double faults to one.However, Williams' momentum didn’t carry into the decisive third set, where she faded, allowing Muchova to regain control and secure the win.Williams' journey at the US Open began in 1997 when she reached the final as a teenage phenomenon. She claimed her first US Open title in 2000 and successfully defended it in 2001, becoming one of only three women this century to retain the women's singles crown at Flushing Meadows, alongside Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams.In 2017, Williams came close to another US Open final but was defeated by eventual champion Sloane Stephens.At 45, Williams is now the third-oldest woman to play a singles match in the tournament's history. This match marked her 101st US Open singles appearance, with 79 victories — a record surpassed only by Serena Williams, Chris Evert, and Martina Navratilova.