Serena Williams beats Anett Kontaveit in 2nd-round US Open match

Williams defeated 80th-ranked Danka Kovinić of Montenegro on Monday night.

She’s back!

Serena Williams won her second-round match of the U.S. Open Wednesday on yet another electric night in Arthur Ashe Stadium, defeating the WTA No. 2-ranked player Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in three sets, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-2.

After the match, Williams said that “there’s still a little bit left” in the tennis superstar.

USA’s Serena Williams serves to Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit during their 2022 US Open Tennis tournament women’s singles second round match in New York, Aug. 31, 2022.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

“This is what I do best. I love a challenge. I love rising to a challenge,” Williams said during a post-match interview. “The last couple matches here in New York, it’s really come together.”

Williams said she kicked it into gear after she lost the second set because she said she thought “this could be it.”

Anett Kontaveit hits a return to Serena Williams during their US Open Tennis tournament women’s singles second round match in New York, on Aug. 31, 2022.

Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

“I’m honestly just looking at [winning the U.S. Open] as a bonus. I don’t have anything to prove. I don’t have anything to win. I have absolutely nothing to lose,” Williams said. “I’ve had an ‘X’ on my back since ’99… I really enjoy just coming out and enjoying [playing], and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do that.”

Williams defeated 80th-ranked Danka Kovinić of Montenegro in two sets, 6-3, 6-3, on Monday night, in an electric match that could have been her last professional singles appearance. Following her win, a celebration for Williams was held at center court, including appearances from tennis legend Billie Jean King and a taped message narrated by Oprah.

Serena Williams practices before playing against Anett Kontaveit, of Estonia, during the second round of the US Open tennis championships in New York, Aug. 31, 2022.

John Minchillo/AP

All eyes have been on Williams, 40, who had announced earlier this month in a personal essay for Vogue that she would be “evolving away” from tennis. If she loses tonight, it will end a nearly three-decade-long dominant career in professional tennis.

But she won’t be done at the U.S. Open in Flushing: Williams will also reunite with her older sister Venus Williams to play a doubles first-round match on Thursday night.

Williams has won 23 major singles titles — the most in the Open Era for men or women — but is in pursuit to notch one more at Arthur Ashe Stadium, on the same court she won her first major title in 1999.

Williams will start playing doubles matches with her older sister Venus Williams on Thursday night. Her third round singles match will be against Australian player Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday.