Agence France Presse
New York, Sept 7: Serena and Venus Williams advanced to a dramatic US Open quarterfinal showdown with straight-set triumphs while Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard withdrew from her fourth-round match due to a concussion.
World No. 1 Serena served well in moving within three match victories of a rare calendar Grand Slam with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over US 19th seed Madison Keys Sunday.
Serena made only six unforced errors to 19 for Keys and hit 58 percent of her first serves. She took 79 percent of those points and 70 percent on her second serves, nearly twice Keys’ second-try effectiveness.
“I’m so proud. I’m so glad it’s so much better,” Serena said of her serve. “My only chance was to start out fast. I just stayed in there and was able to relax.”
Venus, seeded 23rd, downed 152nd-ranked Estonian teen qualifier Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, matching her deepest Grand Slam run since reaching the 2010 US Open semi-finals.
“We’re both prepared,” Venus said. “Even though you’re playing your sister you have to be prepared and focus. The preparation doesn’t change.”
“Awesome. It has been awesome,” Venus said when asked about her sibling rivalry. “I’m so proud of Serena and I think she’s proud of me. We inspire each other.”
Serena leads the Williams sibling rivalry 15-11 but they have split four US Open meetings, including the 2001 and 2002 finals. Serena won their most recent matchup in the fourth round at Wimbledon in July.
Bouchard, who suffered a head injury after slipping in the locker room late Friday, pulled out of her match against Italy’s Roberta Vinci with what US Open tournament director David Brewer said was a concussion. Bouchard had pulled out of mixed and women’s doubles Saturday.
Vinci advanced by walkover to her third US Open quarterfinal in four years. She next faces France’s Kristina Mladenovic who beat Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-1.
Results
Serena Williams bt Madison Keys 6-3, 6-3
Venus Williams bt Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-1
Kristina Mladenovic bt Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-1