Facing Serena not easy for US Open opponents

NEW YORK (AP):

The next woman who must deal with the daunting task of playing Serena Williams at the US Open, Ajla Tomljanovic, considers herself an admirer of the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

“I’ve been a Serena fan,” Tomljanovic said, “since I was a kid.”

Tomljanovic, an Australian who is 29, will face Williams, who turns 41 next month, for the first time tonight – in front of what is sure to be another exuberant and partisan full house – in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“She kind of has that aura, like Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal), and deservedly so,” Tomljanovic said. “I always get happy when she says ‘Hi’ to me.”

Tomljanovic recalled watching on TV as Williams won major trophies. Also tuning in over the years – but never across the net from Williams in a match until this US Open – was the player Williams beat in the second round on Wednesday, No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit, who is 26. Same for the player Williams beat in the first round on Monday, Danka Kovinic, who is 27.

This is not why Williams is winning these contests in what is expected to be the last tournament of her career, but it sure can’t hurt.

Must not be easy to try to defeat someone whose success is oh so familiar, someone you looked up to before you turned pro yourself, someone you admire to this day.

“Oh, it factors in a lot. When I was young, I knew I had to beat members of a certain generation to move up. And Serena’s always been the one to beat,” said Billie Jean King, the Hall of Famer who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles in the 1960s and 1970s, plus another 27 in women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Beating Serena is certainly not easy, especially when she is playing as well as she did against Kontaveit, particularly in the moments that mattered the most in the 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 victory – the first-set tiebreaker and the third set.

“Well,” Williams said with a laugh, “I’m a pretty good player.”

Sure is.

And her opponents sure know it, of course.

Back when Williams and her older sister Venus were swapping the No. 1 ranking the way other siblings might share clothing and meeting each other in nine all-in-the-family finals at Grand Slam tournaments, they often took the court with something of an advantage that went beyond their considerable talents.

Some other players were simply in awe.

So, even though Williams plays less, and wins less nowadays than she used to in her heyday – her 2022 record was 1-3 before this week. Listen to what Kovinic had to say about learning she was drawn to face the American at Flushing Meadows: “I was happy. I won’t lie. I’m honoured to play against her, never mind whether I win or lose. It’s a privilege to share the court with Serena.”

How did that go? Williams won 6-3, 6-3.

Here is what Kontaveit’s thoughts were when her matchup against Williams was assured: “I’m really excited. I was really rooting for her to (advance to the second round). I’ve never played against her. I mean, this is the last chance. Better late than never.”