If the US audience had their way, Serena Williams’ farewell tour could be a never-ending story. The 40-year-old exceptional tennis player, who has won 23 Grand Slam titles in her great career, just one less than the record holder Margaret Court, is not yet ready to retire.
At the US Open, the local hero tore more than 23,000 enthusiastic fans – including golf star Tiger Woods – off their seats in New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium. Only the boldest optimists had expected a second-round win over the current number two in the world, Anett Kontaveit (Est). Williams herself belongs to this “species”, otherwise she would never have made it to the tennis throne.
“I’m a pretty good player – and of course super ambitious. I see all this as a bonus, I don’t have to prove anything anymore. I have nothing to win and absolutely nothing to lose,” said Serena Williams after the 7: 6 (4th minute). ), 2: 6, 6: 2 triumph over her visibly unnerved opponent.
Kontaveit buckled under the pressure of the impressive backdrop, and the Estonian had to break off the subsequent press conference in tears. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before,” admitted the 26-year-old: “It was very difficult with the spectators, but I don’t think it was a personal attack against me.”
In any case, the night session was not entirely fair, even when Kontaveit failed, there was cheering, there was something like a Davis Cup atmosphere, which Williams can still take very far in this tournament.
Because it is de facto impossible for their opponents to mentally prepare for what is hitting them. This also applies to Ajla Tomljanovic, the third round opponent. The 29-year-old Australian with Croatian roots will have more than 20,000 against her in the largest tennis arena in the world on Saturday night. “It will definitely be something I will never forget,” says the number 46 in the world, full of expectation and (still) relaxed.
“It will be a big moment regardless of the result. I’ve been a Serena fan since I was a kid, but this time I’ll just be a competitor and try to win,” Tomljanovic stressed. That’s easier said than done. (Alex)
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Source: Nachrichten
