Serena Williams’s retirement tour has been extended another round after defeating world no.2 Anett Kontaveit.
Arguably the highest stakes match of the tennis player’s career, the 2-hour and 27-minute court trial was a very close call game at first. But Williams found her rhythm and finally overpowered Kontaveit taking home a 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-2 victory.
Not done.#USOpen | @serenawilliams pic.twitter.com/9RND6qp7WA
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2022
After her win, Williams said “I love a challenge and love rising to the challenge. I haven’t played many matches but I’ve been practicing really well and my last few matches it just wasn’t coming together…But the last couple of matches here in New York it’s really come together.”
This is a particularly special venue for the tennis giant to end her career as the first of Williams’ 23 Grand Slam Titles was the US Open in 1999.
“I have had a big red X on my back since I won the US Open in ‘99,” she said. “It’s been there my entire career because I won my first grand slam early in my career. But here it’s different. I feel like I’ve already won.” The pressure of having won a Grand Slam so young is not uncommon as Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu have both expressed similar feelings after their US Open wins.
SERENA WILLIAMS IS ADVANCING TO THE NEXT ROUND IN THE US OPEN‼️ pic.twitter.com/lLdqi82oqc
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 1, 2022
Maintaining her reputation as the best server in the world and the highest decorated tennis player of all time, Williams is relieved as her time at the US Open is not over, getting through to the third round.
Today, Serena Williams will be reuniting with big sister Venus Williams for the doubles tournament which will be the first time they have played with each other in 4 years.
GOAT 🐐 #serenawilliams pic.twitter.com/DtlkeNehgU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 1, 2022