Serena Williams dramatically expanded her iconic career with a never-lost, three-set victory over world number two Annette Kontaveit at the US Open on Wednesday. The 40-year-old, 23-time Grand Slam title winner, won 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 6-2 in front of a raucous, partisan Arthur Ashe Stadium court crowd to reach the third round. He has won the tournament six times. After declaring that she was already “getting away from tennis” after a career spanning 27 years, Williams’ willpower ensured that the retirement party was put on hold for a while.
“There’s no rush,” Serena said in court when she was reminded that she had declared herself in the final stages of her career.
“There’s still a little bit left in me so we’ll see. I’m a very good player. I love a challenge.”
“I’m just Serena, you know. Honestly when I lost the second set I thought ‘Oh my god, I have to try my best because this can happen.'”
She continued: “I’m just looking at it as a bonus. I have nothing to prove. I have nothing to lose. I have an ‘X’ on my back from 1999.”
The Americans arrived on the court with the stadium announcer and proudly hailed him as the “greatest of all time” while Kontaveit waited patiently in his chair.
A rousing welcome for the American in an emotional first-round win against Danka Kovinic on Monday and the post-match celebration organizers opted for a low-key party this time around.
Golf superstar Tiger Woods watched from the Williams player box, while Emmy Award-winning actress Zendaya also extended the A-list of invitees from the Arthur Ashe Stadium stand.
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Only a repetition of the high-pitched tributes paid to Williams by rapper Queen Latifah delayed the start.
Kontaveit, whose Grand Slam career has reached just one quarter-final, served up a love game to propel the competition, but Williams was quickly level.
The 26-year-old Estonian fought off two break points in the third game, but was unable to convert one of hers in the fourth game.
Kontaveit saved four break points in the seventh game, each success greeted with silent, polite applause from the partisan crowd.
Former world number one Williams, now bottom of 609, had the crowd on her feet when she converted her sixth break point to lead 5-4.
The crowd of his enthusiastic fans sat down again quickly when he returned the brakes straight on the double fault.
However, Williams played a tiebreak after 63 minutes to take the opener courtesy of a fifth ace.
To his credit, Kontaveit hit straight back, pulling up to the double break for 3–0 before Williams retrieved one.
It was a brief respite as the Estonian broke again for a 4–1 lead on the way to level the tie.
Williams was ahead 2–0 in the decider, but then the 40–0 lead was cut short by Kontaveit’s hit back.
The Estonian again dropped the serve as Williams went 3-1 and then 4-1 with a solid hold.
Williams won 5–2 with a 19-shot rally victory.
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It was all too much for Kontaveit who was broken to love a safe match with a backhand winner.
Williams will now take on Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic for a place in the last 16.
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