Williams beat Estonian Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-2 in another night of great emotions on the center court of Flushing Meadows, the largest in the world
In another amazing display at almost 41 years old, Serena Williams eliminated the Estonian on Wednesday Anett Kontaveitthe number two in women’s tennis, and advanced to the third round of the US Open, the possible last tournament of her career.
Williams won for 7-6 (7/4), 2-6 y 6-2 in another night of great emotions on the center court of Flushing Meadows (New York), the largest in the world.
The American, who will also compete from Thursday in doubles with her sister Venushas announced that his departure from tennis is close but he is reluctant to confirm if it will happen in this Grand Slam.
“There’s no rush, I’m loving this crowd,” he said with a smile after the win. “It’s really fantastic, there’s still a little bit more in me, we’ll see.”
Williams, who was playing just her sixth game in the last year, faced a greater challenge than in her debut on Monday against the Montenegrin Danka Kovinicnumber 80 of the WTA.
Kontaveit came back from the initial set achieved by Serena but, encouraged by her 23,800 passionate fans, the American imposed her still devastating service and her hierarchy to overcome the challenge.
“I’m just Serena,” said Williams, a mother of a 5-year-old girl, when asked if she was amazed at her level. “I feel like I’ve had a big red X on my back since I won the US Open in 1999 and it’s been there my entire career,” Williams said at the news conference. “But here it’s different. I feel like I’ve already won, figuratively, mentally. It’s amazing what I’ve done.”
“It was tough,” Kontaveit acknowledged of the atmosphere on the Arthur Ashe track. “I expected it, I saw it in the previous game, but you can’t learn from other people’s mistakes and it was one that I had never felt before.”
“She played very well. I haven’t played a bad match at all but she definitely raised her level in the third set. She played amazing,” Kontaveit acknowledged.
the australian Ajla Tomljanovicnumber 46 in the world ranking, will be the rival to beat to access the second round of the US Opena tournament he has won six times.
“Nothing to lose”
Serena She had already been honored on Monday with full honors in what was anticipated to be her likely last game. But Williamsthe fiercest competitor to ever wield a racquet, refused to tarnish her record with a first-time loss and cruised to a resounding straight-set victory over Kovinic.
As on the opening day, on Wednesday celebrities such as the golfer also came to support her Tiger Woods, whom he later recognized as an inspiration to return to tennis. “It was a privilege to witness such greatness. Congratulations,” Tiger told Serena on Twitter.
The sequel to Monday’s party had less pomp and circumstance and much more competitive tennis. Williams y Kontaveitwho had never met before, measured each other in the early stages of the match.
But it didn’t take long for the American to show that, after a year of inactivity, she is improving by leaps and bounds with each game.
Kontaveit survived several sieges until the least of the Williams he broke to take his first lead 5-4. The Estonian, aware of the avalanche she suffered Kovinic Having lost the opening set, he gritted his teeth to prevent Williams from escaping and managed to return the break right away.
The set led to a tiebreak that Williams finished with a ace like those of his best times, unleashing delirium in the stands. Willing to enforce her hierarchy in the ranking, Kontaveit He ordered the celebration to be stopped with an acceleration that put him 3-0 ahead.
His arm, hitherto shrunken under pressure, was freed to find angles his veteran rival couldn’t reach. The Estonian sailed through the second set without encountering too much resistance from Serena nor of the public, who reserved forces for the final battle.
When it started, Williams was reactivated and snatched his first two games from Kontaveitan unreliable player on the big stages, who has never made it past a quarter-final of Grand Slam.
Serena, who has seen and overcome it all, saw the moment to empty the energy tank and returned some amazing balls that made her fans vibrate, surrendered to another feat of their idol.
“Honestly, I take this as an extra. I have nothing to prove, nothing to gain and absolutely nothing to lose,” he stressed. Williamswho for years was chasing the 24th crown of Grand Slam would have equaled the record for Margaret Court.
According to the criteria of
Know more
