It certainly wasn’t the grand slam return Venus Williams will have dreamed of, but the 45-year-old said she is leaving the US Open feeling “very proud” after her 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 first-round defeat to Karolína Muchová.

Venus Williams put up a fight. But she came up short Monday night after pushing No. 11 Karolína Muchová to a third set in the first round of the US Open.

Venus Williams, at age 45, returned to the US Open and took No. 11 seed Karolina Muchova to three sets before losing in the first round.