Williams defies time to down No 2 seed
NEW YORK: Serena Williams thrilled a raucous New York crowd after rolling back the years to defeat world No 2 Anett Kontaveit in the second round of the US Open as the exodus of top seeds continued yesterday on the third day of the yearend grand slam.
Williams (40) produced a sparkling performance to clinch a 76 (74), 26, 62 victory over Kontaveit, ensuring her farewell tour continued into the third round after signalling her intention to retire in early August.
‘‘I’m a pretty good player,’’ the American great said with a sly grin when asked how she beat her secondseeded opponent.
‘‘This is what I do best. I love a challenge. I love rising to a challenge . . . I have absolutely nothing to prove.’’
Estonian Kontaveit became the highest seeded player in the women’s draw to exit Flushing Meadows and joined Maria Sakkari out of the tournament after the Greek third seed fell 36, 75, 75 to unseeded Wang Xiyu, of China.
Russian Liudmila Samsonova joined in, ousting last year’s finalist, Leylah Fernandez, of Canada, 63, 76 (73).
In the men’s draw, world No 1 Daniil Medvedev swept past Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech.
The defending champion won for the 20th time in his past 22 matches at Flushing Meadows when he cruised through the match 62, 75, 63.
The Russian ace next meets Wu Yibing, who became the first Chinese man to reach the third round at Flushing Meadows after beating fellow qualifier Nuno Borges, of Portugal, 67 (37), 76 (74), 46, 64, 64.
Former world No 1 Andy Murray, of Britain, who won his maiden major crown in New York a decade ago, reached the third round of a grand slam for only the second time in five years after beating American wild card Emilio Nava 57, 63, 61, 60. — Reuters