Serena Williams’ next job will be to decide whether to partner Andy Murray in the Wimbledon mixed doubles after coasting through her opening singles match.
The American and the Scot talked up the idea of joining forces during their pre-tournament press conferences at the All England Club on Saturday.
And, having started her quest for an eighth singles title at SW19 with a straight-sets victory over Giulia Gatto-Monticone, it is now crunch time for the 37-year-old, with the entry deadline looming on Wednesday at 11am.
Off to a flying start in the first round.
Will 2019 be the year @serenawilliams wins her eighth #Wimbledon women’s singles title? pic.twitter.com/XVQxSAdVLB
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2019
Murray is playing alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the men’s doubles but is in need of a partner for the mixed, with Williams appearing to be at the front of the queue after several top players, including world number one Ashleigh Barty, rejected his offer.
In her first meeting with Gatto-Monticone, Williams showed no early signs of the knee injury that recently plagued her as she advanced into a 5-0 lead.
The Italian did hit back, though, holding her serve and then breaking, but it was not enough to prevent Williams from taking the opening set.
She got the job done eventually to set up a second-round match with qualifier Kaja Juvan, who got the better of Kristyna Pliskova on Tuesday.
