<p class="title">Serena Williams withstood a "rough and rowdy" challenge from 17-year-old American wildcard Caty McNally at the US Open on Wednesday to keep her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title intact.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams, a six-time champion in New York, recovered from dropping the opening set to prevail 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 and set up a third-round showdown with either 29th seed Hsieh Su-Wei or Karolina Muchova.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I had to stop making errors. I made so many errors in the first two sets. I was just too many. You can't win tournaments making that many errors. I knew I had to play better, and I knew I could," Williams said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I want to be able to win matches where I'm not playing my best, play players who are playing great, be able to come through. I need to be tested, I guess."</p>.<p class="bodytext">McNally, who hadn't been born when Williams won her first Slam at the 1999 US Open, threatened a struggling Williams from the start before the 37-year-old won nine of the last 11 games to escape under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I survived tonight. I'm not too pleased with the way I played at all," Williams said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'd rather not be tested in every match. But that doesn't happen, so it's important for me to have those, like, really rough, rowdy matches. That helps a lot."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Eighth seed Williams is seeking to match Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam crowns and needed to gather her thoughts after a first set littered with 15 unforced errors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I definitely treasure it because it's important to have," Williams said of her ability to regroup. "I've won so many Grand Slams because of it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Obviously I would be so lying if I said I enjoy the tough matches more. But I think looking back years later, I enjoy the tough matches more. But in the moment, in the weeks after, it's definitely a different feeling."</p>
<p class="title">Serena Williams withstood a "rough and rowdy" challenge from 17-year-old American wildcard Caty McNally at the US Open on Wednesday to keep her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title intact.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams, a six-time champion in New York, recovered from dropping the opening set to prevail 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 and set up a third-round showdown with either 29th seed Hsieh Su-Wei or Karolina Muchova.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I had to stop making errors. I made so many errors in the first two sets. I was just too many. You can't win tournaments making that many errors. I knew I had to play better, and I knew I could," Williams said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I want to be able to win matches where I'm not playing my best, play players who are playing great, be able to come through. I need to be tested, I guess."</p>.<p class="bodytext">McNally, who hadn't been born when Williams won her first Slam at the 1999 US Open, threatened a struggling Williams from the start before the 37-year-old won nine of the last 11 games to escape under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I survived tonight. I'm not too pleased with the way I played at all," Williams said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I'd rather not be tested in every match. But that doesn't happen, so it's important for me to have those, like, really rough, rowdy matches. That helps a lot."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Eighth seed Williams is seeking to match Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam crowns and needed to gather her thoughts after a first set littered with 15 unforced errors.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I definitely treasure it because it's important to have," Williams said of her ability to regroup. "I've won so many Grand Slams because of it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Obviously I would be so lying if I said I enjoy the tough matches more. But I think looking back years later, I enjoy the tough matches more. But in the moment, in the weeks after, it's definitely a different feeling."</p>