Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
Tennis legend Serena Williams’ storied career will continue at least into the weekend after a win over No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in the second round of the U.S. Open.
Williams downed Kontaveit 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 in one of the rare matches in which Williams, a 23-time winner of major tournaments, was — at least by ranking — the underdog.
“I’m super competitive,” Williams said.
Honestly, I’m just looking at it as a bonus. I don’t have anything to prove. I don’t have anything to win. And I have absolutely nothing to lose. I never get to play like this, since ’98, really. Literally, I’ve had an ‘X’ on my back since ’99. So, it’s kind of fun, and I really just enjoy coming out and enjoying it, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that.
Williams announced in early August that she would retire following her appearance in the U.S. Open.
Currently unseeded and ranked No. 413 in the world standings, Williams is hardly the common underdog. In her win over Kontaveit, as well as a straight-set win over Danka Kovinic of Montenegro in Round 1, Williams has shown that she is still capable of channeling the immense talent that made her the face of women’s tennis for two decades.
“Well … I’m a pretty good player,” Williams said. “This is what I do best. I love a challenge. I love rising to a challenge. I haven’t played many matches, but I’ve been practicing really well, and my last few matches, it just wasn’t coming together. … The last couple matches here in New York, it’s really coming together.”
Next up for Williams will be a Saturday, Round 3 matchup against fellow unseeded competitor Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia, the 46th-ranked player in the women’s division.
Were Williams to prevail in that contest, her Round 4 opponent would be either Liudmila Samsonova, the world No. 35, or Aleksandra Krunic, the world No. 96.
To crown her career with an all-time record-tying 24th major, Williams will need to win five more matches.
Chasing Court while Court chases Christ
Williams currently sits one major win behind record holder Margaret Court, who retired from tennis in 1976 with 24 major singles titles and 64 major titles in all, also a record, including 19 women’s doubles titles and 21 mixed doubles titles.
Court is now the minister at Victory Life Centre, a self-described “Word of Faith/Pentecostal ministry” that she founded in 1995, in Perth, Australia.