*Five-time champion Venus Williams won a close opening match at Wimbledon on Monday, outlasting Donna Vekic of Croatia 7-6 (3), 6-4 to advance at the All England Club for the 17th time.
Vekic, 20, was just a year old when Williams, 36, made her Wimbledon debut in 1997.
Playing in her 19th Wimbledon, Venus had two set points in the first set serving at 6-5 but blew them both on errors. The tiebreaker, however, was a breeze.
In the second set, Williams broke serve for 5-4 and served out to take the victory.
Reflecting on her career after the win, Venus told reporters: “I don’t have any regrets because I’ve always worked my hardest. I’ve lost matches, I’ve learned from it, it made me better. I really wouldn’t change a thing.”
Serena Williams’ first round match will take place Tuesday, June 28, against Amra Sadikovic of Switzerland.
Watch highlights from Venus’ first round match below:
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