It's deja vu all over again for Serena Williams.
Serena cleared her first major hurdle of the 2022 US Open on Wednesday, knocking off world No. 2 ranked Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the second round at Flushing Meadows.
Williams looked in vintage form in the match: Behind the strength of a surgical forehand and 11 aces, the 40-year-old kept her singles swan song playing into Friday night, when she'll take on unseeded Ajla Tomljanovic. The matchup between the two will mark the first on-court meeting.
That could be cause for intimidation for Tomljanovic; Williams, playing and winning at Arthur Ashe Stadium, says she's already cleared the mental block of playing.
"I just feel like I have had a big red X on my back since I won the US Open in '99 and it's been there my entire career... but here, it's different. I feel like I've already won, figuratively and mentally."
- Serena Williams
(via @usta & @espn) pic.twitter.com/1xvjDb9j2s
"I just feel like I've had a big red X on my back since I won the US Open in '99 and it's been there my entire career. . But here, it's different. I feel like I've already won, figuratively and mentally."
MORE: Watch Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open with fuboTV (free trial)
If that's truly the case, then expect more of classic Serena Williams on Friday night - and maybe even beyond that in this year's US Open.
Here's how to watch Williams' next 2022 US Open match:
Williams and Tomljanovic meet on ESPN2 on Friday night.
For those who want to live stream the event, fuboTV carries ESPN and its family of networks, and also offers a free trial.
ESPN's streaming service, ESPN+, will also feature the match.
Williams will once again get the prime-time treatment on Friday in her matchup with Tomljanovic, with a 7 p.m. ET start time.
Depending on how many games and sets are played, the match should finish between 9 and 10 p.m. ET.
Below is the complete remaining TV schedule for the 2022 US Open:
ESPN Deportes