Stephen Keating
– New York Serena Williams defeated world number two Anett Kontaveit 7-6(4) 2-6 6-2 and advanced to the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, putting her retirement thoughts on hold. Williams played more like a high-ranked player than a player placed outside the top 600.
Williams has always found it difficult to accept defeat, and the 40-year-old American’s dogged will to win was on full show during a two-hour and 27-minute match of unexpectedly high quality, feverish intensity, and drama.
Williams announced her desire to retire earlier this month, stating that she was “developing away from tennis” but never announcing that the US Open would be her last tournament.
Williams returned to the center court on Thursday for a doubles match with older sister Venus, followed by a third round encounter against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic, who defeated Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Williams said with a sneaky grin when asked how she defeated the world number two, “I’m a pretty decent player.” “This is what I do best; I enjoy a challenge and relish the opportunity to overcome one.”
US Open SERENA WILLIAMS IS PROGRESSING TO THE NEXT ROUND! pic.twitter.com/lLdqi82oqc
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 1, 2022
“Over the past several matches in New York, things have really come together.
“I am really competitive, but I honestly view it as a positive.
“I have nothing at all to prove.”
With 23 Grand Slam titles and a reputation as the best female tennis player of all time, Williams has truly accomplished everything on the tennis field.
But after two victories and a secure passage to the third round, Williams’ once-impossible dream of retiring with an elusive 24th major to tie Margaret Court atop the all-time list is suddenly a realistic possibility.
Williams, who had been world number one for 319 weeks, arrived in New York rated below 600, unseeded, and having won just one match in three tournaments prior to the season’s final Grand Slam.
SERENA WILLIAMS, ARE YOU SERIOUS⁉ #USOpen | @serenawilliams picture on Twitter:
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2022
Williams has not recorded consecutive victories since the 2021 French Open, over a year prior. She faced a formidable opponent in Kontaveit, a 26-year-old player whose game was designed for hardcourts and had won five of her six career titles on the surface.
With no pre-match festivities to distract her, Williams walked onto the court in her opening round encounter with her game face on and delivered a performance that had Arthur Ash Stadium on its feet.
Williams obtained the initial break to take a 5-4 lead, but his serve failed and Kontaveit broke again to force a tie-break.
Williams clinched the tie-break, 7-4, with a thunderous ace. The tie-break was of equal caliber.
However, the Estonian was not scared by Williams or the boisterous audience, gaining two early breaks in the second set to go up 3-0 and easily win the set.
Three breaks occurred in the first four games of the third set, but two of those breaks went to Williams. She took a 4-1 lead and never relinquished it.