Serena Williams has never lost a match in the opening two rounds of her beloved US Open. The 23-time Major winner extended her streak to 42-0 on Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Serena defeated the 2nd seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6, 2-6, 6-2 in two hours and 27 minutes for her 108th US Open victory. Serena won one point more than Anett, and there was nothing to separate them in the overall stats. Both players grabbed five breaks of serve, and Serena saved her best tennis for the decider to topple a better-ranked opponent and move into the last 32. The Estonian defended break points in the opener’s third game to remain on the positive side.
Serena Williams has won two matches at the US Open.
The American denied a break chance in game four with a service winner and leveled the score at 2-2. Kontaveit escaped in game seven from multiple break points down and almost ten deuces to remain on the positive side. Williams finally grabbed a break at 4-4 after the rival’s backhand error and served for the opening set in the next one. Instead of bringing the set home, Serena got broken at 15 after a double fault to keep Anett in contention. Both players served well in games 11 and 12 to introduce a tie break, and the result remained with the serve in the first seven points. Williams earned a mini-break that sent her 5-3 in front and landed an ace at 6-4 to secure the opener after 63 minutes.
Anett made a better start in set number two and delivered two breaks for a 3-0 advantage. She clinched another return game at 3-1 to extend her run and wrapped up the set with a fine hold at 5-2 to introduce a decider. The rivals traded early breaks in the final set before Serena delivered another return game to open a 3-1 gap. The crowd’s favorite held at love in game five to confirm the lead and forge a 4-1 advantage. Williams saved a break point in the seventh game and clinched it with a forehand drive-volley winner that pushed her closer to the finish line. Anett served to stay in the match at 2-5 and faced three match points after a forced error. The Estonian lost the ground completely, and the American sealed the deal on the first after a return winner that propelled her into the third round.