- Mubadala Citi DC Open Men’s and Women’s Tennis Draws
- Paris Olympic Tennis Draws and Order Of Play for Saturday, July 27, 2024
- Kitzbuhel Generali Open Draws and Order of Play for Friday, July 26, 2024
- Paris Olympic Tennis Singles and Doubles Draws
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Friday, July 26, 2024
- Atlanta Open Draws and Order of Play for Thursday, July 25, 2024
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Thursday, July 25, 2024
- Laver Cup Tennis 2024 Is in Berlin September 20-22 • Almost all the top men’s players will be playing
- Coco Gauff Named Team USA Flag Bearer for Olympic Games
- Kitzbuhel Generali Open Draws and Order of Play for Wednesday, July 24, 2024
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Wednesday, July 24, 2024
- Atlanta Open Draws and Order of Play for Tuesday, July 23, 2024
- Fils upsets Zverev for Hamburg title, Borges beats Nadal in Bastad
- Kitzbuhel Generali Open Draws and Order of Play for Tuesday, July 23, 2024
- Croatia Open Umag Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Just like that, Serena Williams takes flight from sentimental retiree to U.S. Open title contender
- Updated: September 1, 2022
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.10sballs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/SerenaWaveGetty.jpg?w=615&ssl=1)
By Ricky Dimon
The Serena Williams 2022 U.S. Open narrative changed in a New York minute on Wednesday night.
What is presumably the last tournament of her illustrious career began with the aura of a ceremonial goodbye. Just three days later, the headlines are adorned with a prospect as sparkling as her dress: a 24th Grand Slam title.
It’s a very real prospect, too. Sure, Williams will have to beat opponents superior to Anett Kontaveit (even though Kontaveit is the No. 2-ranked player in the world) if the dream is to become a reality, but based on the level of tennis she displayed in round two there is no reason why it can’t be done. The 40-year-old unquestionably would have had at least a decent chance to beat anyone in the field on Wednesday, when she treated a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd to a 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 victory over Kontaveit.
“I cannot think that far,” Williams said when asked following her second-round win if she can win the tournament. “I’m having fun and I’m enjoying it. Honestly, I’ve had so many tough matches the last…I don’t know how long…that I just feel prepared for everyone that I play [being] really, really difficult.”
Well, let’s think that far for her. Williams has Ajla Tomljanovic next–another seeded opponent but also someone who isn’t exactly a legitimate Grand Slam title contender (she has never reached the semifinals of a major). After that it would be one of two unseeded opponents, either Liudmila Samsonova or Aliaksandra Krunic. Simona Halep is already out of the bottom half of the draw and Williams would not have to face top seed Iga Swiatek until the final.
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.10sballs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Tomljanovic-Getty-9-1-22.jpg?w=615&ssl=1)
Unsurprisingly, you can count Kontaveit among those who think Williams has a legitimate chance.
“I think she played really well,” the Estonian assessed. “I mean, I thought I didn’t play a bad match at all…. She played amazing…. I know there [are] also a lot of very strong girls there in the draw, but I think if she plays really good tennis, I think she always has a chance to win.”
Williams would never disagree, but she also won’t put a number on her chances.
“It’s that weird mixture of embracing (the farewell) but also staying focused,” Williams explained. “So I’m just really trying to figure out which percentage I want of each.”
It’s hard to say exactly what the percent chance of a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title is. But one thing’s for sure: it’s suddenly a lot more than zero.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.