Ajla Tomljanovic has dug deep to set up a dream US Open third-round blockbuster with retiring legend Serena Williams.
Australia’s two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist fought back from a service break down deep in the deciding set to defeat Russian Evgeniya Rodina 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 in an intense baseline slugfest on Wednesday night (Thursday AEST).
Playing her 21st and last US Open, Williams confirmed her date with Tomljanovic on Friday (Saturday AEST) minutes later with a stirring 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-2 second-round victory over world No.2 Anett Kontaveit.
If she keeps playing like this, who knows how long this farewell will last?
“There’s still a little left in me,” Williams said with a smile during her on-court interview.
“This is what I do best,” she added. “I love a challenge and I’m rising to the challenge.”
Ajla Tomljanovic will face Serena Williams for the first time in New York.Credit:Getty
Asked how she’s doing it so far, Williams replied with a hearty laugh: “Well, I’m a pretty good player.”
She hit serves at up to 190km/h, stayed with Kontaveit during lengthy exchanges of big swings from the baselines and conjured up some of her trademark brilliance when it was needed most.
After pulling out a tight first set, then faltering a bit in the second, Williams headed to the locker room for a bit of a break before the third.
Something had to give, someone had to blink.
Serena Williams’ US Open campaign is set to last at least one match longer.Credit:Getty
When they resumed, it was Williams who lifted her level and emerged as the better player.
Just as she’s done so many times, on so many stages, with so much at stake.
“I’m just Serena. After I lost the second set, I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness, I better give my best effort because this could be it’,” Williams said, surely echoing the thoughts of every one of the people paying any attention.
“I’m super competitive. Honestly, I’m just looking at it as a bonus. I don’t have anything to prove,” she said, which certainly is true. “I never get to play like this — since ’98, really. Literally, I’ve had an ‘X’ on my back since ’99,” the year she claimed her first grand slam title at the US Open aged 17.
More to come
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