Serena Williams celebrated as usual with a couple of small pirouettes when it was clear that she had won the meeting against the Estonian Anett Kontraveit.
The two were tied in the first set, which required a tiebreak before Williams was finally able to break with a serve.
Kontaveit came back to win the second set 6–2, but Williams showed that the old rhythms were still there, taking the deciding set 6–2, after a total of almost two and a half hours of battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
- It's really fantastic, there's a little bit left in me, says Serena Williams on the court after the match.
In what was interpreted as her farewell to the audience in Flushing Meadows - she herself has been deliberately vague about how long she will continue - the legend, in her own words, is in no rush to end her career.
"I'm just Serena"
If she is surprised that, ranked 413 on the WTA tour, she managed to knock out the world number two, she first only answers with a telling look, before elaborating:
- I'm just Serena.
I'm a pretty good player.
This is what I do best, I love a challenge and taking it on.
I haven't played many games lately, but trained well.
I haven't been able to do it at games, but here in New York it has fallen into place.
In the next round, 46th ranked Ajla Tomljanovic, Australia awaits.
During the night of Friday, at approximately 01:00 Swedish time, Serena Williams will also enter the doubles tournament with her sister Venus.
Czech Lucie Hradecka and her 17-year-old compatriot Linda Noskova stand for the resistance.