Venus Williams won a match at Wimbledon for the 90th time. She also beat the rain.
The 41-year-old Williams advanced to the second round by defeating Mihaela Buzarnescu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. The match ended moments before a light shower forced an interruption in play on some courts at the All England Club.
Williams is playing at Wimbledon for the 23rd time. She has won the grass-court tournament five times, most recently in 2008. She is now ranked 111th, and the victory was her first since she won one match at the Australian Open.
Williams saved five break points in the first set as she pulled ahead. When she closed out the victory, she shouted “Come on!” and celebrated with her familiar pirouette.
Williams overcame eight double-faults and erased 13 of the 15 break points she faced.
It wasn’t all good news for American women on Tuesday.
Alison Riske lost to Tereza Martincova 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. The 28th-seeded Riske committed 42 unforced errors.
No. 8 Karolina Pliskova eliminated Tamara Zidansek 7-5, 6-4, and No. 13 Elise Mertens beat wild card Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-3. No. 15 Maria Sakkari and No. 21 Ons Jabeur also won, and American qualifier Claire Liu outlasted Misaki Doi 2-6, 6-3, 9-7.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.