Serena Williams Takes On Anett Kontaveit and Comes Out On Top

In what might be her final appearance at the US Open, Serena Williams defeated world No. 2 Anett Kontaveit in the second round of singles play on Wednesday at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.

“Oh my goodness, I had to give my best effort because this could be it,” I thought when I lost the second set. During a post-game interview on the court, Williams said to ESPN.

Williams looked better than she did in earlier games this season, when she was still working out the rust from a protracted break.

Though Williams was definitely the underdog with a big crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, she faced a considerably tougher challenge in the form of world No. 2 Kontaveit.
A loud crowd that was well-behaved applauded her at every turn.
In her interview on Wednesday, she made mention of the protracted layoff but added, “I love a challenge.”
In the third round, Williams will go up against Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia. On Wednesday, Tomljanovic, who was competing at the same time as Williams, defeated Evgeniya Rodina of Russia 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Additionally, Williams is not just playing singles; on Thursday night, she will debut in doubles alongside her sister Venus Williams.

She said to ESPN, “I need more matches. “I enjoy accepting challenges. Although I haven’t played in many games, I have been practising a lot. It just wasn’t coming together in my most recent contests. I think, “This is not me.””
Since she began competing in the Open, she claimed, things have changed.

She beat Montenegrin Danka Kovini 6-3, 6-3 to open singles play on Monday. It was Williams’ third game following her Vogue article declaration that she will “evolve away from tennis” following the US Open.

“Retirement has never been a word I’ve loved. It doesn’t strike me as a contemporary word. Although I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, I want to be careful how I use that word because it has a very specific and significant meaning to a group of people “Williams stated in an earlier this month’s Vogue story.
“Perhaps the simplest way to sum up what I’m doing is to call it evolutionary. I’m come to let you know that I’m moving away from tennis and toward other essential things “She spoke.
Williams was questioned about whether or not this tournament would be her last during her post-match news conference on Monday.

She smiled and added, “Yeah, I’ve been fairly vague about it, right?” I won’t say anything specific since you never know.
Since returning from injury, Serena Williams has looked her best in the opening-round victory over Kovini. Since rejoining the circuit in June, she has only been able to win one match, and she hasn’t been able to regain the level of performance that allowed her to capture her most recent grand slam title in 2017.
While Williams’ victory over Kovini on Monday was a long way from reaching that level, it undoubtedly gave her hope that she would prolong her time at the US Open.

Williams, one of the best tennis players ever, has won the US Open six times, most recently in 2014, and has won 23 grand slam singles titles. Williams’ 40-year-old career will come full circle as her last match, in whatever round it occurs, will be played at the 1999 US Open, the venue of her first grand slam singles victory.
Williams made her debut as a teenager, shocking Martina Hingis, the world No. 1, in the championship match and setting the stage for her two-decade reign of supremacy.

A emerging talent, Kontaveit


After winning her maiden Tour-level championship in 2017, Kontaveit’s real breakthrough year came in 2021, when she won four WTA tournaments and shot up the rankings.
A competitive player with a wide range of skills and a strong forehand, Kontaveit first entered the top 10 in November 2021 and has been there ever since.
She is currently ranked No. 2 in the world, which is a career high and the highest level ever achieved by an Estonian. At age 26, she will undoubtedly be trying to improve on her best major slam performance, a quarterfinal place at the 2020 Australian Open.

With just three games lost, Kontaveit defeated Jaqueline Cristian of Romania in the first round of the US Open. She later stated that she was “rooting” for Williams in that match and was “very eager” to compete against her.
“I’ve never faced her in a game. I mean, this is the last opportunity,” she said to the press. It’s better to be late than never. I’m quite enthusiastic. I anticipate an incredible environment. I’m eagerly anticipating it.