Serena Williams has avoided what would have been her earliest loss in 19 appearances at the U.S. Open.
Williams came back from a set down in the second round at Flushing Meadows to beat 17-year-old American Caty McNally 5-7, 6-3, 6-1.
The only time Williams ever has been beaten as early as even the third round in New York was in her tournament debut all way back in 1998 - when she was just 16 herself.
The following year, Williams won the first of her six U.S. Open championships. McNally hadn't even been born yet.
