8216;Fighter8217; Venus Williams wows to come back after early exit at US Open

8220;Oh wow,I definitely want to come back for the atmosphere,8221; she said. 8220;I8217;ll get there. I just have to keep working on it. I8217;ve had a tough set of circumstances to work through,especially this year,last year and the year before.

8220;I8217;ve been dealt some cards that aren8217;t easy,but I have to play with them. I8217;m a fighter.8221; Also Read: Somdev battles his way into US Open second round

Williams suffers Sjogren8217;s Syndrome,which causes fatigue and joint pain,and has been hampered this year by back pain.

Champion in New York in 2000 and 2001,Williams had a parochial crowd on her side as the match went down to the wire. Also Read: Murray commences defence with dominant win

A rushed volley at five-all in the deciding tiebreaker proved costly.

8220;I should have made the shot,8221; she said. 8220;I rushed so badly and didn8217;t make it. I had a lot of opportunities,I was always stepping up and putting myself in a good position 8230; but I just dug myself into so many holes.

8220;I fought as hard as I could to get out of them,but sometimes it just wasn8217;t enough.8221;

Williams will contest the doubles with her sister Serena.

She planned to sit back and watch the next era of American women8217;s tennis.

8220;I8217;m happy to see them doing so well,8221; she said. 8220;They all seem really talented.

8220;I8217;m looking forward to them continuing to develop their games and hopefully be able to win big matches,big tournaments,and continue to influence the next generation,as well.8221;

Former world number one Williams,who upset 12th-seeded Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in the first round,is now ranked 60 in the world,but Zheng was thrilled to fell the former champion in front of her home crowd.

8220;It8217;s unbelievable I can beat her,8221; she said in a courtside interview. Zheng next faces 18th-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in the third round.