Overview

• Karolina Muchova, the No. 11 seed, defeated Williams 3-6, 6-2, 1-6 in their opening-round match at Flushing Meadows.
• Williams fought back tears afterward, saying her goal was to give herself a chance to play more healthy and to feel freer on court.
• Following a long pause, the moderator ended the session, which another outlet described as an “executive decision.”
• She signaled reluctance to travel long distances at this stage of her career, quipping about wanting more events in the United States.
• Her return followed about 16 months away after surgery to remove uterine fibroids and ongoing management of Sjögren’s syndrome, with tune-ups in Washington and Cincinnati.