Serena starts off strong with 6-4, 6-1 win

There was a moment, albeit a very brief one, when Serena Williams appeared vulnerable. Her once-commanding lead in the first set was down to a game, and Alexa Glatch had momentary hope.

But come on. Let’s be serious. It’s the first round of a major, and Williams doesn’t lose in those. Ever.

Williams held serve at love to take the first set, and went on to defeat her fellow American, 6-4, 6-1.

Williams improved to 40-0 in the first round of majors and said she’s taking the approach to not put too much pressure on herself, going back to how she felt when she made her first appearance at the US Open a decade ago.

“Ten years ago I definitely wasn't a favorite,” said Williams, the No.2 seed. “I felt like I had nothing to lose. I like that attitude. When you play with that attitude, then you can go a really far way. That's kind of how I would like to even approach it this year.”

Williams was the aggressor throughout. She wasn’t at her best – she had 18 winners and 19 unforced errors – but still looked in good form. A strong wind at times also made it difficult for sustained great play.

But there was no question that Williams dictated the match, and with the exception of a couple strong games by Glatch that reduced Williams’ first-set lead from 5-4 to 5-2, she was in total control.

Glatch, who was instrumental in leading the American Fed Cup team to the final against Italy in November, appeared hesitant to go for winners even when she had the rare opportunity. She seemed content to hope Williams would make an error. But those didn’t come nearly often enough for Glatch to pull off a miracle.

“When she steps into it, she can probably hit bigger than any other girl on tour,” Glatch said.

Because the expectations are so incredibly high for Williams -- fair or unfair -- she began the Open coming off a summer that wasn’t her best. Following her win at Wimbledon, she lost in all three tournaments she entered. Two of the players who defeated her – Samantha Stosur and Sybille Bammer – are in her section of the draw.

“I just kind of shut out every expectations and don't really read too much of anything, what anyone's saying,” Williams said.

But the majors are typically where Williams is at her best, and she’s one of the favorites to win her fourth US Open title, and 12th major. Her relative indifference in other events has become as much a staple of her game as her dominance in the marquee tournaments.

And tournaments don’t get any more prominent than the US Open.

-	Williams is now 19-1 in Grand Slam singles play this year.
-	Entering the US Open, Williams led the WTA Tour wiht 290 aces this year.
-	Glatch was making her first US Open appearance as a direct entrant.
-	Glatch has not won a match in the North American hardcourt season.