NEW YORK -- Even after two years away from Grand Slam tennis, Venus Williams displayed some big serves and powerful groundstrokes at the US Open on Monday night in front of a supportive crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, before losing 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 to Karolina Muchova .

At age 45, Williams was the oldest singles player at the hard-court tournament since Renée Richards was 47 in 1981. She was making her 25th US Open main draw appearance, the most by any man or woman since the Open era began.

"She's such a legend of our sport," Muchova said about Williams, adding that it was an honor "to share a court with her."

In just the fourth match of a comeback that began last month after more than a year off the tour, Williams didn't exactly get to ease into things Monday: Muchova, a 29-year-old fro

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