Serena Williams details the possible farewell to New York fans.
In the second round, she defeated world number two Anett Kontaveit.
– I’m not in a hurry, I like this audience, says the smiling star of the world.
Serena Williams She celebrated as usual with a pair of petites when she apparently won the meeting against Estonian Annette Kontraveit.
The two tied in the first set, which required a tiebreak before Williams could finally break.
Kontaveit returned to win the second set 6-2, but Williams showed the old rhythms were still there, sealing the deciding set 6-2, after nearly two and a half hours at Arthur Ashe Court.
“It’s really cool, I have very little left,” says Serena Williams on the court after the game.
“Just Serena”
In what has been interpreted as her farewell to the public at Flushing Meadows — she herself has been deliberately vague about how long it will last — the legend, as she puts it, is in no hurry to end her career.
If she is surprised that, at 413 on the WTA Tour, she managed to defeat the world number two, she first answers with an expressive look, before detailing:
– I’m only Serena, she says, smiled and continued:
– I’m a good player. This is what I do best, I love a challenge and take it. I haven’t played a lot of games lately, but I’ve trained well. I couldn’t do that in games, but here in New York it did.
“Nothing to lose”
There is no doubt that the 40-year-old is still a winner. With 23 Grand Slam wins since 1999, she has usually found herself under pressure to enter the favourite. This year is different.
– I see this as a reward. I have nothing to prove. I have absolutely nothing to lose. I haven’t been able to play that way since 1998, it’s really fun to go out and enjoy it, it’s been such a long time, she says.
In the next round, Australia, ranked 46, is waiting for Tomljanovic.
During Friday night, at around 1:00 Swedish time, Serena Williams will also participate in the doubles tournament with her sister Venus. Czech Lucy Hradica, who has three Grand Slam titles in doubles under her belt, and 17-year-old compatriot Linda Noskova will compete.