Serena Williams mustered the strength of the old to stay alive at the US Open and thrill a frenzied Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Unlocking a history-making vault level of play, the 40-year-old American defeated number two seed Anett Kontaveit and roared everyone who packed the sport’s biggest arena.
Tiger Woods was among those who came to pay their respects, and all were rewarded with a pulsating 7-6 2-6 6-2 that lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
Poor Kontaveit didn’t know where to look at the end, and next up for treatment will be Australian Alja Tomljanovic, her opponent in the third round.
Williams’ serve supported her in the first and third sets, but it was also surprising how well she covered the court, on fire throughout the ragged support. Something big may be stirring.
“I love this crowd, it’s great, I still have a little bit left,” he said. ‘I love challenges and being up to the task. The last two games have been very tight. After losing the second set I thought I had to give my best effort.
Serena Williams beat second seed Anett Konatveit in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday
The 40-year-old triumphed in a thrilling 7-6 2-6 6-2 that lasted two hours and 27 minutes.
The American icon beat the 26-year-old to set up a third-round clash against Alja Tomljanovic
The great golfer Tiger Woods (right) was among those who came to pay their respects
“I’m super competitive, I just see it as an advantage. I have absolutely nothing to lose. I’ve had an X on my back since 1999.’
Through no fault of her own, Kontaveit might be the most anonymous world No. 2 in history, with her ranking based on solid year-round showings rather than spectacular Grand Slams.
In a highly questionable move, Williams’ opponent was sent onto the court first again, only to have to sit there and wait for the American’s delayed arrival while the television did a montage.
The Estonian was certainly a higher-calibre opponent than the previous contender to end Williams’ singles career, Danka Kovinic.
Poor world number 2 Kontaveit of Estonia didn’t know where to look at the end
It was also surprising how well it covered the track, fired up throughout by the raucous support
Equipped with a strong serve and groundstrokes that have picked up speed in recent seasons, she always had the firepower to test the 40-year-old’s swing.
That has looked sharper here due to the accumulation of practice sets played by Williams, helping her to create two break points in Kontaveit’s first service game.
Saving them seated someone who might have felt like the underdog, despite being ranked 603 places above the opposition.
After the seventh game, Williams, whose first serve landed 83 percent of the time, had created five break points but failed to take any.
The Estonian was undoubtedly a higher-calibre opponent than the previous candidate, Danka Kovinic
But the pressure told, and at 4-4 Kontaveit sent a backhand long in a sixth to put Williams ahead, only for her to play her weakest game of the match and break.
Kontaveit’s winners were met with stony silence, but when she mistimed a dropshot at 3-4 in the tiebreaker, delighted pandemonium ensued. Williams closed it out from there, 7-4.
Then came a turn that saw the American’s serve lose some of its power and the Estonian land much more back on the court. Having been broken twice, it looked like Williams had decided to regroup for a decider.
She came off the court and came back alive to take a 2-0 lead and then make it 40-0 before a double fault contributed to her being pulled away and broken.
The pressure began to pile on Kontaveit as unforced errors began to creep into her game
Kontaveit’s winners were met with stony silence as Arthur Ashe clearly backed Williams
The crowd was stunned, but it didn’t take long for them to wake up again as, on another turn, Williams broke again against a flustered Kontaveit, who seemed to feel the huge tide against her.
At 4-2, she was threatened, but showed remarkable defensive skills to fend off a break point and then cruise to a game win after a volley that met with a cacophonous backlash.
The game ended with a minimum of drama, and the next episode will be the doubles on Thursday.
Relive all the action from the US Open clash between Serena Williams and Anett Kontaveit with ISABEL BALDWIN’s Sportsmail live blog.