LIVE: ‘Disrespectful’ Serena move slammed

Serena Williams has advanced to the third round of the US Open amid a huge wave of support for the former world No.1.

Facing No.2 seed Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, the American turned back the clock to come up with big plays when she needed it to win 7-6, 2-6, 6-2.

Williams dominated a decisive third set to extend what is most certainly the final tournament of her career.

However, there were several moments that could have gone either way in the decider but with the vocal New York crowd behind her, she came up big, displaying the type of form most fans were accustomed to seeing during her younger years.

Williams had played only one three-set match this season, falling to Harmony Tan at Wimbledon in the first round after returning from a one-year absence.

She hit serves at up to 190km/h, stayed with Kontaveit during lengthy exchanges of big swings from the baselines and conjured up some of her trademark brilliance at the right time.

“I’m not in any rush here (to leave),” Williams said during her on-court interview.

“I’m loving this crowd, and there’s still a little left in me. We’ll see.

“This is what I do best, I haven’t played many matches but I have been practicing really well.

When asked whether she was surprised at her play this week, Williams replied: “I’m just Serena, you know?

“I’m just looking at it as a bonus, I have nothing to prove … I have nothing to lose.

“I haven’t been able to play like this since 1998, I’ve had an X on my back since 1999.

After pulling out a tight first set, then faltering a bit in the second, Williams headed to the locker room for a bit of a break before the third.

Something had to give, someone had to blink.

When they resumed, it was Williams who lifted her level and emerged as the better player.

Just as she’s done, so many times on so many stages, with so much at stake.

The six-time champion at Flushing Meadows will play Saturday AEST for a spot in the fourth round.

Her opponent will be Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic, who defeated Evgeniya Rodina 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Tomljanović broke the 11th game of the deciding set to set up victory in two and a half hours.

She needed two match points to finish off the job.