Venus Williams started with a soft forehand, shifted to a gentle backhand and even tried to blow away a most pesky opponent. She kept moving from sideline to sideline, yet still couldn't shake free at the US Open.
Not until three attendants came onto the court to help did Williams escape what was bugging her Monday - a bee that wanted to land on her racket.
"The bee was a challenge," the two-time Queen Bee of Flushing Meadows said after beating Kimiko Date-Krumm 2-6 6-3 6-3 in the first round.
The prematch buzz was all about the ages of the players. Williams is 34, Date-Krumm is 43 and their combined 77 years was believed to be the oldest for opponents in a women's Grand Slam pairing, the WTA said.
Earlier in the match, a bee interrupted Date-Krumm's serve. She refused to kill it, and instead parried the insect.
Then with the 19th-seeded Williams ahead 3-0 in the final set, a bee flew close to Williams as she prepared to serve.
Williams last won the US Open in 2001 and has been slowed by health problems in recent years. But she beat younger sister Serena this month in reaching the final at the Rogers Cup in Montreal and, asked Monday whether she felt old on the court, answered, "not yet."
Ranked second in the world, Simona Halep merited the honour of kicking off the US Open on centre court.
The stage proved imposing at first, and Halep needed to rally from a set down to beat a young American making her grand slam debut.
The Romanian won 6-7 (7-2) 6-1 6-2 on Monday over 20-year-old wild card Danielle Rose Collins.
The French Open runner-up, Halep reached a career-high ranking of No.2 this month. She has never advanced past the fourth round at the US Open.
"My best moment of my life - I have to enjoy this," she said.
"But it's not easy. There's a lot of pressure on me. Everyone is telling me that I have chances to win."
Maria Sharapova, a winner here eight years ago, rallied from 2-4 down in the first set, rattling off 10 straight games to defeat friend and fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-4 6-0.
Sixth-seeded Angelique Kerber needed three sets to outlast qualifier Ksenia Pervak 6-2 3-6 7-5, coming back from a break in the third set.
Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska had no such trouble. She beat Sharon Fichman 6-1 6-0 in 47 minutes, losing just three points in the second set while former world No.1s Jelena Jankovic and Caroline Wozniacki both had wins.
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