To the delight of No. 1 Court ticket holders Friday, it was announced a mixed doubles match between Venus Williams-Jamie Murray and Alicja Rosolska-Michael Venus was coming.
Williams stepped on court for the first time since last August’s Chicago Women’s Open alongside Murray, a two-time mixed champ at his home Slam.
In the fourth game, the pair broke from 40-15 down to strike first…
… and saved all five break points they faced in clinching the opening set.
Williams and Murray went up an early break in set two…
… but Rosolska-Venus denied a consolidation to immediately get back on serve.
After the American and Brit served to avoid a decider at 4-5 and 5-6…
… their opponents strung together five consecutive points to grab the tiebreak, 7-6 (3).
Keeping their energy positive…
… Williams and Murray hit the reset button to seal their debut, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-3.
Revealed Williams in press, “I had no plan to play. I saw the grass and I got excited.” We are, too.