'It was difficult to cope' - Tearful Anett Kontaveit on facing Serena Williams' crowd at US Open

A tearful Anett Kontaveit admitted it was “difficult to cope with the crowd” during her defeat to Serena Williams at the US Open. The second seed, who has suffered a string of disappointing results in recent weeks, was unable to conquer the 23-time Grand Slam champion under the New York lights on Wednesday night. Ad An electric atmosphere on Arthur Ashe Stadium helped Williams recover from a mid-match blip to come through 7-6(4) 2-6 6-2 and book a meeting with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round.

US OpenSerena 'one of the favourites for title' after stunning win – Wilander6 HOURS AGO Kontaveit conceded that the partisan support was “tricky” to handle but said she still felt the crowd was “fair”. “It was hard. It was something I never experienced before,” she said at her post-match press conference.

“I don’t think it’s a personal attack against me or anything. I mean, it’s fair.” Serena 'one of the favourites for title' after stunning win – Wilander Serena felt 'lost' until Tiger pep talks inspired comeback – US Open diary She continued: “I thought I didn’t play a bad match at all. She definitely raised her level in the third set.

She played amazing. “In the first set she was serving so well in these important moments. I fought really hard, thought I played a decent match.

She was better today. “It was her moment. I was trying to do my own thing.

Of course, this is totally about her. I was very aware of that.” The decision by organisers to introduce Kontaveit before Williams, and then leave her waiting while a Serena montage played out on court, has sparked consternation among some. And the emotion of the occasion caught up with the 26-year-old when fielding a question from an Estonian reporter, who praised