Retiring tennis great Serena Williams has taken fans on a rollercoaster ride of emotions during her first round match at the US Open.

Facing Montenegrin Danka Kovinić in what loomed as potentially the final match of her incredible career, Williams had other ideas as she won a drama-filled contest 6-3 6-3.

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The American champion was simply introduced as the ‘greatest of all time’ during her walkout to face Kovinic on Arthur Ashe Stadium in front of a raucous home crowd.

Despite her struggles of late, Williams started the match like a player possessed as she drew on the energy of the home crowd to race out to a 2-0 lead.

However, the 40-year-old’s serve began to desert her as Kovinić grabbed her first break of the match to get back into the contest.

A double fault from Williams handed the World No.80 her second break as the Montenegrin turned an early deficit into a 3-2 lead.

Once again seeming to respond to the crowd’s unwavering support in New York, Williams turned the set on its head once again by claiming successive breaks on the Kovinić to go a whisker within claiming the opening set.

Serving at 5-3, the American found herself in trouble to managed to fend off more break points before bombing down a big ace to set up set point.

Williams then forced her opponent into a forehand error to clinch the opener, before roaring in celebration as fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium erupted as one.

Serena grabbed the crucial break in the fifth game of the second set, and with her previously shaky serve now looking stronger, moved in for the 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁.

Williams sparkled another enormous roar from the crowd when she held to love to jump out to a 5-3 lead, forcing Kovinić to serve for the match.

The American then capitalised on a double fault and a pair of errors from Kovinić to set up three break points to take out the match.

As it turned out, Williams only needed one as the American forced Kovinić into another error that sealed a big win for the home hero.

The incredible scenes left viewers in a frenzy on social media.