Anett Kontaveitová Source: Profimedia NEW YORK – Thirty-two-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who can end her professional career at the US Open, advanced to the 3rd round in New York. The 42-year-old American star defeated world number two Anett Kontaveitová from Estonia 7:6, 2:6, 6:2 in front of the packed stands of the Arthur Ash court, and will challenge Australian Ajla Tomljanovičová in the next stage. The world number two from Estonia had an extremely difficult time against the home legend, because the audience made it clear at every moment whose side they were on, so it’s no wonder that Kontaveitova succumbed to the strongest emotions at the post-match press conference. She’s never experienced anything like that “There’s no shame in losing to Serena. It was hard to get used to the crowd and all that. I think that was the hardest thing in the match. It was difficult, I’ve never experienced anything like that. But I don’t think it was a personal attack on me. Everything was fair,” Kontaveitova said at the press conference about the biggest obstacle in the match, and she was no longer able to answer other questions. The sympathetic Estonian was overcome by emotions and left the press conference early with tears in her eyes. She is only Serena Six-time US Open winner Williams indicated farewell in the September issue of Vogue magazine, where she declared that she was “evolving in the direction of tennis”. After getting past Danka Koviničová from Černá Hora in the opening round of the US Open, she defeated second seed Kontaveitová in two hours and 29 minutes. “Still in me little is left. This is simply what I know best. I love challenges and I’m up for them,” Williams said in an on-court interview. “I’m just Serena. After I lost the second set, I thought that I really have to give my best because this could be it,” Serena alluded to a possible ending. Photo gallery (10) Source: SITA/AP/Seth Wenig She will introduce herself also in doubles After the second triumph in a row, the American legend continues to hope for the 24th Grand Slam title, which would equal the absolute record holder Margaret Court. In total, she won 367 meetings at the “big four” tournaments. Only Roger Federer has more triumphs in the so-called open era (369 ).In the third round, Serena will be challenged by Tomljanovičová, and before that, alongside her sister Venus, she will appear in doubles against the Czech pair Linda Nosková and Lucie Hradecká. Photo gallery for the article Number of photos: 10 Author: © Zoznam VIDEO: Youtube Source: ČTK, Športky