US OPEN

August 31, 2022

Anett Kontaveit

Press Conference

S. WILLIAMS/A. Kontaveit

7-6, 2-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. (Question about the atmosphere on court.)

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I expected it. You can expect something, I saw it from the previous match. When you're on the court, I mean, it was hard.

I knew it was coming. Yeah, I guess you can't learn from anyone else's mistakes. Feeling it, it was something I never experienced before.

Q. How would you describe what you saw from Serena throughout the match and when she was at her best during it?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I mean, I think she played really well. I mean, I thought I didn't play a bad match at all. Yeah, she definitely raised her level in the third set. She played amazing.

Yeah, I think also in the first set she was serving so well in these important moments. Yeah, I mean, I fought really hard, thought I played a decent match. She was better today.

Q. Was that the Serena Williams that you expected out there, that level?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think you have to be ready for really great tennis because she has been such a big champion, winning all these Grand Slam titles for a reason. So you have to be ready for a really tough match.

She played great. Yeah, so, I mean, I was ready for a tough match. I didn't think that anything was going to come easy for me today.

Q. The crowd was obviously brutal. At some point you hit two back-to-back winners, and they really cheered for you. Did you feel at any point in the middle of the match, Okay, they can tell I'm playing really well? Any satisfaction in that?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I could not, no (laughter).

Q. Were they brutal throughout?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I mean, it was hard (smiling).

Q. Are you able to tell yourself at least you played really, really well, back to the peak level you were at at the end of last year?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I mean, it's so soon after the match. It's definitely going to take some time to, like, sort of process it and look back at it.

I mean, yeah, I tried my hardest today. It is what it is.

Q. Going out on the court, they play the montage for Serena before she walks on the court, a strange order of events. What is that moment like? Do you feel like she's sort of bigger than the sport in some way?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I mean, yeah, of course, it was her moment. I mean, I was trying to do my own thing. Yeah, I mean, of course, this is totally about her. I was very aware of that.

Q. Can you recall when you first knew of Serena as a young girl, what did she mean in tennis circles when you were very young?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I mean, I've grown up watching her win so many Grand Slams. Yeah, I mean, I always remember seeing how fiercely she competed for every point. Yeah, of course, I was growing up watching her play. I mean, she was dominating women's tennis for so long.

Q. After the way you dominated the second set, was there anything in your mind that turned that early in the third, switched the momentum?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I honestly feel like Serena started playing better. She was hitting it a little bit harder, missing a little bit less. She played a very good third set I thought.

She really switched it on from there, yeah. I mean, I guess there's a few points here and there where I feel like I could have done better on my serve maybe. I mean, she was returning better. She was playing the rallies better. I felt like she did everything a little bit better in the third set.

Q. Was the crowd fair, especially when you were serving?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I mean, I think they were not rooting like against me. They just wanted Serena to win so bad.

So, I mean, I don't think it's a personal attack against me or anything. I mean, it's fair. I mean, she deserves this, yeah.

Q. Could Serena win this tournament with the game you faced tonight?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think she played very well, very well today. I mean, I know there is also a lot of very strong girls there in the draw.

But, I mean, I think if she plays really good tennis, I think she always has a chance to win.