Tag: williams
Akim Williams Shares Details of the Car Accident That Almost Ended His Season
Serena Williams vs Anett Kontaveit – LIVE results: Serena wins thriller to move into third round
SERENA WILLIAMS kept her hopes of a miracle US Open win alive with a thrilling victory.
The 40-year-old beat No 2 seed Anett Kontaveit in a three-set battle in front of an electric Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena took it 7-6 2-6 6-2 on another magical night in New York.
Here’s how it all unfolded…
Serena Williams fights past No 2 seed Anett Kontaveit in New York to keep dream of miracle US Open win alive
SERENA WILLIAMS had a thrilled Tiger Woods on up his feet in applause as she enjoyed one of her best wins since becoming a mum.
American’s finest female sports star – who is hanging up her racket after this year’s US Open – moved into the third round with a 7-6 2-6 6-2 victory over Estonian Anett Kontaveit.
Serena Williams beat Anett Kontaveit in a thriller on Wednesday night[/caption]
The 40-year-old kept her dream of US Open glory alive[/caption]
Anett Kontaveit was the No 2 seed in the draw[/caption]
But Serena Williams knocked her out with a brilliant performance[/caption]
Golfing icon Woods, 46, spoke to friend Williams about her decision to quit professional tennis after 27 years on the Tour.
And 15-time major winner Woods – who knows a thing or two about sporting miracles – was in the stands with his girlfriend Erica Herman to watch Williams knock out the second-highest seed in the women’s draw.
There are still five more matches to go, of course, but Williams remarkably remains in the hunt to equal Margaret Court’s mark of 24 Slam singles titles that has stood in the record books for 49 years.
A mark that she has been desperately chasing ever since she won the Australian Open in 2017 and then gave birth to daughter Olympia eight months later.
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The Californian is not the title favourite in New York – world No.1 Iga Swiatek still has that mantle – but when she is in this mood, it is clear it will take a top performance to eliminate her from the draw.
Like in the first round, Williams was introduced to the court as the “greatest of all time” while a video montage of her career narrated by Queen Latifah was played on the big screens.
Williams, wearing the same diamond-laced outfit and shoes from Monday night, knew she had to raise her level against the highest-ranked opponent she has faced this year.
And the 40-year-old tried her best to keep the rallies short – while many disrespectful fans in the Arthur Stadium cheered Kontaveit’s double faults and unforced errors.
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Indeed British umpire Alison Hughes had her work cut out to keep quiet those calling out Williams’s name throughout the match.
The crowd were up on their feet in raptures when Williams sealed the first set in the tie-break with a 91mph ace, the fifth one she had fired down by that point.
Yet whether it was fatigue or a lack of focus, Williams was unable to sustain the same level of intensity in the second set and soon found herself 3-0 down.
The fifth game was notable because from 40-0 up, she contrived to surrender her serve and from there Kontaveit won the next three games to level up at 1-1 in sets.
Williams, who turns 41 in September, was certainly fired up in the third set and started arguing with the umpire about the line calling.
In the end, it did not matter as she rediscovered her mojo to book a third-round appointment on Friday against either Russian Evgeniya Rodina or Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
Tiger Woods was in Serena’s box for the match[/caption]
She was joined by Erica Herman and later shared a greeting with Venus Williams[/caption]
Before then, there is the small matter of a first-round doubles match with her elder sister Venus on Thursday night under the floodlights.
Serena said: “I’m loving this crowd and it’s really fantastic so – there’s still a little left in me.
“I love rising to the challenge. I haven’t played many matches but i’ve been practicing really well. The last couple of matches here it’s really come together.
“After I lost the second set I thought ‘Oh my goodness I want to give my best effort because this could be it’. I just kept trying and it was super exciting.
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“I’m super competitive. Honestly I’m just looking at it as a bonus. I don’t have anything to prove or anything to win.
“I’ve had an X on my back since 1999. I’m enjoying just coming out and playing like this.”
Tiger Woods joined by girlfriend Erica Herman in Serena Williams’ player box at US Open
TIGER WOODS was in Serena Williams’ corner at the US Open on Wednesday night.
The golf great was in the tennis legend’s player box on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Tiger Woods and Erica Herman watched from Serena’s player box[/caption]
Tiger Woods appeared in good spirits on Arthur Ashe Stadium[/caption]
Woods, 46, was joined by girlfriend Erica Herman as he cheered on Serena on another magical night at Flushing Meadows.
The golf legend is close friends with the 40-year-old tennis icon.
Serena was supported by a host of big names in her first round match on Monday night.
Hugh Jackman, Bill Clinton and Mike Tyson were among the celebs who saw her win over Danka Kovinic on Monday.
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And more big names were in the house to watch her beat No 2 seed Anett Kontaveit.
Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick were both seen in the stands on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena is close friends with golf icon Tiger.
He has been seen supporting Serena in the past in New York.
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In her Vogue essay revealing she’s retiring from the game, she spoke about him in glowing terms.
Serena revealed she contacted Woods for advice before coming back at Wimbledon earlier this year.
Woods returned from a horror car crash and leg injury to play again at the Masters this year.
Writing in Vogue, Serena said: “This spring, I had the itch to get back on the court for the first time in seven months.
“I was talking to Tiger Woods, who’s a friend, and I told him I needed his advice on my tennis career.
Tiger Woods greets Venus Williams[/caption]
Serena Williams is playing what is expected to be her last ever tournament[/caption]
“I said, ‘I don’t know what to do: I think I’m over it, but maybe I’m not over it.’
“He’s Tiger, and he was adamant that I be a beast the same way he is!”
Serena added: “He said, ‘Serena, what if you just gave it two weeks? You don’t have to commit to anything. You just go out on the court every day for two weeks and give it your all and see what happens.’
“I said, ‘All right, I think I can do that.’ And I didn’t do it. But a month later, I gave it a try.
“And it felt magical to pick up a racket again. And I was good. I was really good.
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“I went back and forth about whether to play Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open after that.
“As I’ve said, this whole evolution thing has not been easy for me.”
Tiger Woods and Anna Wintour cheer on Serena Williams in her US Open second-round match
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Serena Williams beats Danka Kovinic and keeps US Open dream alive in final slam appearance
SERENA Williams lived to fight another day and held off retirement after a magical night in New York.
The 40-year-old icon won her first round match at the US Open in front of an electric Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Serena Williams lived to fight another day as she won her first round match at the US Open[/caption]
Serena Williams held off retirement for a few more days at least[/caption]
Williams beat Danka Kovinic 6-3 6-3 in one hour and 39 minutes to seal her place in the second round.
It meant at least one more singles match for one of the all-time greats, who was given a huge ovation.
Serena walked out to huge cheers from 23,000 fans packed into Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Celeb stars such as Mike Tyson, Hugh Jackman and President Bill Clinton were also in attendance to roar Serena to victory.
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Serena said: “I feel so comfortable on this court in front of everyone here.
“The crowd was crazy, it really helped pull me through.
“It’s been such a hard decision to retire because when you’re passionate about something and love it so much, it’s harder to walk away than not.
“I think now’s the time. I have a family. There’s other chapters in life. I call it evolution.
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“I’m still going to be crazy and intense and I’m still going to be around.”
Serena continued: “It’s so important to give your all no matter what obstacle you face.
“I’ve been down and out so many times and in the public eye.
“I know it sounds cliche but i just want people to be inspired – I’m from Compton, California and I made it.”
The tennis icon announced her retirement from the sport in a heartfelt message earlier this month.
She wrote in Vogue magazine that she’s turning 41 and ‘something’s got to give’.
Mike Tyson watches the action on Arthur Ashe Stadium[/caption]
Actor Hugh Jackman watches from the stands in New York[/caption]
Former President Bill Clinton in attendance[/caption]
Actress Rebel Wilson takes in the action in New York[/caption]
Serena wrote: “Believe me, I never wanted to have to choose between tennis and a family. I don’t think it’s fair.
“A lot of people don’t realize that I was two months pregnant when I won the Australian Open in 2017.
“But I’m turning 41 this month, and something’s got to give.
“I have never liked the word retirement. It doesn’t feel like a modern word to me. I’ve been thinking of this as a transition, but I want to be sensitive about how I use that word, which means something very specific and important to a community of people.
“Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.
“A few years ago I quietly started Serena Ventures, a venture capital firm. Soon after that, I started a family. I want to grow that family.”
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Serena has won 23 grand slam singles titles, one shy of Margaret Court’s record.
And the dream to win No 24 is still alive for Williams after coming through on Monday night.