Serena Williams' brutal reality ahead of final US Open campaign
Serena Williams has learned she will face World No.80 Danka Kovinic in the first round of her farewell grand slam tournament at the US Open.
Williams was placed in the lower half of the draw and facing the World No.80 is seen as favourable by many in what could be the 40-year-old's last match.
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However, things could get difficult quickly for the 23-time grand slam winner if she advances.
Williams faces a potential match-up with second seed Anett Kontaveit in the second round.
She was also placed in the same half of the draw with No.5 seed and Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur, No.10 seed Russian Daria Kasatkina and last year's losing finalist Leylah Fernandez.
Williams, who has brought in Aussie Rennae Stubbs into her coaching team, has been training hard on Arthur Ashe Stadium ahead of her final grand slam.
Flushing Meadows will serve as a celebration of Williams' extraordinary career.
And with plenty of hype around Williams' draw, fans reacted to the 40-year-old's rather tough draw.
Interesting draw for Serena in #USOpen.
A few players who haven’t been in good form lately but who will still be challenging.
Even an off-peak Kontaveit, specifically, is still a tough opponent if nowhere near her #2 seeding.— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) August 25, 2022
Serena Williams got a very good draw. Let’s see what happens. #USOpen
— Yutanota3021 (@ColinNicholas15) August 25, 2022
Serena Williams will face Danka Kovinic in her final US Open.
A potential second round with Anett Kontaveit.— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 25, 2022
Honestly I think I like the @usopen draw for Serena Williams.
She opens vs No. 80 Kovinic and then could play No. 2 seed Kontaveit who has struggled this year & at the majors.
There wasn’t going to be an easy path in her (likely) final career Slam, but it could have been worse. pic.twitter.com/VPKw8H8NTO— Mike McIntyre (@McIntyreTennis) August 25, 2022
A note from the #USOpen
"All main draw singles matches in the bottom half of the women's draw and the top half of the men's draw will be played on Monday. This includes 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams."— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) August 25, 2022
Serena is Monday night @usopen
— Pam Shriver (@PHShriver) August 25, 2022
WHAT A MOMENT ⭐️🤭
Looking forward to this 💪🏼🇲🇪 https://t.co/40JzsIcLGf— Danka Kovinić (@DankaKovinic) August 25, 2022
I fully expected them to overload Serena’s farewell with “blockbusters.” This is actually an amazing draw for her with lots of potential. https://t.co/bgmTVsL5oV
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) August 25, 2022
Top seed and World No.1 Iga Swiatek opens against Italy's Jasmine Paolini and headlines a top half of the draw including American hopes eighth seed Jessica Pegula, 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, Garbine Muguruza, Jelena Ostapenko and Petra Kvitova.
Britain's Emma Raducanu, who captivated the tennis world last year at Flushing Meadows by going from qualifier to Grand Slam winner, will open her title defence against Alize Cornet.
Serena Williams brings in Rennae Stubbs for US Open
Earlier this month, Williams announced the US Open would be her final tournament in a career that has spanned more than 20 years.
Williams is seeking a record-equalling 24th grand slam title to draw level with Margaret Court's all-time tally.
And in an attempt to finish on a fairytale, Williams has enlisted the help of Aussie tennis great Stubbs.
Stubbs - a four-time grand slam doubles winner - has taken on a role in her coaching team offering advice ahead of the tournament.
Williams announced herself to the world by winning the US Open in 1999 as an 18-year-old, a tournament she would go on to claim five more times.
The 40-year-old also owns 14 women's grand slam doubles titles with older sister Venus and has won four Olympic gold medals - one in singles (2012) and three in doubles (2000, 2008, 2012).
The US Open is the last opportunity for Williams to equal Court's record, which she addressed in her retirement announcement.
"There are people who say I'm not the GOAT (greatest of all time) because I didn't pass Court's record, which she achieved before the 'Open era' that began in 1968," the former World No.1 said.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want that record. Obviously I do. But day to day, I'm really not thinking about her. If I'm in a Slam final, then yes, I'm thinking about that record. Maybe I thought about it too much, and that didn't help."
with Reuters
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