Last year, the U.S. Open ended in controversy for Serena Williams after she was accused of using coaching during her final set against Naomi Osaka, the young player who eventually defeated her and went on to take her first Grand Slam title.

The 2019 Open is proving, so far, to be much different for the 18-time major champion. Many billed her opening match on Monday (August 26) against Maria Sharapova as an opportunity to rehash fiction about their “rivalry.” Serena, on the other hand, had no interest in playing into that narrative — or keeping the score close.

Williams destroyed Sharapova 6-1, 6-1 to win her first-round match at Flushing Meadows, stretching her winning streak to 19 victories against the Russian-born tennis player. She now leads their head-to-head series 20-2. As one fan on Twitter pointed out, the last time Sharapova beat Williams, Barack Obama was an Illinois state senator. 

The entire match only lasted 59 minutes with Williams winning twice as many points, 56-28, as Sharapova.

Serena entered the U.S. Open, where she’s won six times, following questions about back spasms that forced her to exit the Rogers Cup prematurely. She certainly answered any doubters on the court, and officially, afterward.

"The body's good. I feel good,'' Williams said, according to ESPN. "My back's a lot better. So I'm excited. This is going to be fun.''

The quick win also allowed her to get back to what’s really important: “I’m obsessed with my daughter,” she told reporters after her victory.

See highlights of Serena Williams’ crushing victory over Maria Sharapova below.