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Anett Kontaveit feels there is no need for her to feel any pressure when she meets Serena Williams as she just wants to enjoy the "unique experience" of playing the American in her final tournament. On Monday, Kontaveit made a winning start to her US Open campaign as she saw off Jaqueline Cristian 6-3 6-0 to set up a second round meeting versus Williams.
Kontaveit will have a chance to end Williams' singles career when she meets the 23-time Grand Slam champion for the first time. "I don't feel like there is any pressure on me on the results or anything" Kontaveit said. "I'm just going to take it as a real unique experience.
I'm not sure if I'll ever experience something like this again. I think it's a special moment for her."
Kontaveit vows to fight hard versus Williams
Over 29,000 people were in attendance for Williams' first round match versus Danka Kovinic.
Kontaveit knows Arthur Ashe will be packed and the New York crowd will stand behind Williams. "I'm going to fight as hard as I can for every point," Kontaveit said. "I'm really going to enjoy the atmosphere being out there against the greatest player of all time.
I think it's such a great opportunity. I'm really excited, really looking forward to it." Against Kovinic, Williams was going for her shots. Going into her second round match versus Williams, Kontaveit expects the American to play powerful tennis.
"She hits the ball really hard, and she has such great hands so she can direct it anywhere," Kontaveit explained. "I'll just have to be ready for really hard hitting, some heavy serving. Just play very consistent and fight very hard, play a consistent match.
I think that's how I'm going to approach it." Kontaveit, who is currently the second-ranked player in the world, is aiming to make it past the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time in 2022.