Tennis: Serena Williams qualifies for the third round of the US Open

Europe 1 with AFP 06:12, September 01, 2022

Serena Williams qualified for the third round of the US Open on Wednesday, which could be the last tournament of her phenomenal career, by beating the world No.2, Estonian Anett Kontaveit, 7-6 (7/4 ), 2-6, 6-2.

In the next round, the 40-year-old American with 23 Grand Slam titles, who now ranks 605th in the WTA, will face Australian Ajla Tomljanovic (46th).

Motivated as in its finest hours

Shortly after 7:00 p.m. (23:00 GMT), Serena Williams entered the Arthur-Ashe court, to a loud ovation but in an enclosure that vibrated less with emotion than on Monday, its stands not yet being completely filled.

However, the atmosphere quickly became lively.

A few minutes earlier had been broadcast the same introductory video broadcasting the images of his finest exploits in Flushing Meadows, narrated by Queen Latifah.

In her sequined black outfit, diamonds adorning her shoes, Serena Williams entered the court, warmed up and played.

With always this blind support from the public that she even had to calm down herself when the video refereeing showed that a ball from Kontaveit had hung on the line of a few felt threads.

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Motivated as in her finest hours, Williams - who will be 41 on September 26 - let go of her shots.

But Kontaveit is not as soft as Danka Kovinic was in the first round and the Estonian contained the power of the American, giving her blow for blow.

Like at the end of the first set where Williams broke to lead 5-4 and serve to win the set without succeeding, Kontaveit rejoining at 5-5.

The two players thus arrived at the tie break

On a drop shot that stopped in the net, Kontaveit gave Williams a mini-break.

She kept her advantage and concluded with an ace that made anonymous and stars, including Spike Lee and Tiger Woods, rise from their seats.

In the aftermath, Kontaveit immediately took Williams' serve twice to pull away 3-0 in the second set with tremendous aggression.

The American then stopped the bleeding by resuming one of the two late serves.

But Kontaveit was ready to respond to the power of the American's shots.

Until causing gestures of helplessness in Williams.

'Don't Underestimate' Serena Williams

So much so that the Estonian continued her march forward by taking the face-off from the American for the third time in the set.

And it was on an ace, like Williams before, that Kontaveit concluded the second set.

At this point, Williams seemed caught up in her own power and speed game: Kontaveit landed 29 winners in straight sets (versus 25 for Williams) including 15 in the second set (versus 7).

But as Chris Evert had warned, "do not underestimate" Serena Williams: close to the knockout, she got up and resumed the fight.

Both players hit, balls flew, and Serena broke the lead in the deciding set to lead 2-0.

Before breaking away irremediably and concluding with a superb winning comeback along the line.