SERENA Williams says she feels “like I’ve already won” the US Open after dramatically extending her iconic career with a never-say-die, three-set victory over world number two Anett Kontaveit on Wednesday.
The 40-year-old 23-time Grand Slam title winner triumphed 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 in front of a raucous, partisan Arthur Ashe Stadium Court crowd to reach the third round of a tournament she has won six times.
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Having declared that she was already “evolving away from tennis” after a 27-year career, Williams’ force of will ensured that the retirement party was put on hold for a little longer.
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“I just feel like I have had a big red X on my back since I won the US Open in 1999. It’s been there my entire career, because I won my first Grand Slam early,” said Williams.
“But here it’s different. I feel like I’ve already won, figuratively, mentally. It’s just pretty awesome the things that I’ve done.”
Williams first played the US Open in 1998 and won her first major at the tournament a year later when she was just 17. But this US Open is widely expected to be the last of her career which has brought 73 titles as well as a personal fortune estimated at $250-million.
“There’s no rush,” said Serena on court when reminded that she had declared herself to be in the closing stages of her career. “There’s still a little left in me so we’ll see. I’m a pretty good player. I love a challenge.
“I’m just Serena, you know. I don’t have anything to prove. I have absolutely nothing to lose.”
On Wednesday, Serena unleashed 11 aces and 38 winners past Kontaveit who cut a forlorn, shell-shocked figure at the conclusion of the match. Williams had arrived at the tournament having played just four matches since last year’s Wimbledon.
On Wednesday night, Williams arrived on court with the stadium announcer proudly introducing her as “the greatest of all time” while Kontaveit waited patiently at her court-side chair.
The Estonian admitted the cauldron-like atmosphere on the biggest court in tennis had been intimidating.
“It was hard. I knew it was coming. It was something I never experienced before,” she said.
Williams next faces Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic for a place in the last 16 today.
AFP
