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Earlier this season, former world number one Williams was officially considered an inactive player, having gone a whole year without competing.<\/p>\n
Then, out of nowhere as the eyes of the tennis world were trained on Wimbledon, she announced she was ready to play again at the Washington Open.<\/p>\n
Williams beat 35th-ranked Peyton Stearns on her comeback in Washington, whetting her appetite for more competitive action.<\/p>\n
Despite an opening defeat in Cincinnati, Williams received a wildcard for the US Open singles, in which she is also a two-time champion.<\/p>\n
After her 6-3 2-6 6-1 defeat by Muchova, she cast an emotional figure as she reflected on how she has battled back from serious health issues to push the world’s best players to their limit – against the odds.<\/p>\n
In 2011, Williams was diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, an incurable autoimmune disease with symptoms including pain, numbness and fatigue.<\/p>\n
Last month, she revealed how she had also been affected by the severity of painful fibroids – abnormal growths that develop in the uterus.<\/p>\n
Fernandez, 22, is seeded 31st in the women’s singles in New York and beat compatriot Rebecca Marino 6-2 6-1 in the first round. <\/p>\n
She reached the singles final in 2021, where she finished runner-up to Britain’s Emma Raducanu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n