Sisters Serena and Venus Williams are to face off after advancing to the US Open quarterfinals. World number one Serena is three wins away from a calendar-year Grand Slam.
Serena Williams advanced to the US Open quarterfinals on Sunday, after a straight-set 6-3, 6-3 victory over US 19th seed Madison Keys.
Keys, 20, almost matched Williams’ booming serve but made more mistakes – 19 unforced errors to just six for Williams, including six double-faults – most of them coming at inopportune times, including match point.
The victory puts Serena in a final-eight clash with sister and 23rd seed Venus, who earlier defeated Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-1.
Serena, who holds all four major tennis titles, is now three wins shy of completing the first calendar-year Grand Slam since German Steffi Graf in 1988.
The sisters most recently met up in round four of Wimbledon in July. Serena, at 33 two years younger than Venus, owns a 15-11 edge in the sibling rivalry.
“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.”
She added she didn’t want to be “a spoiler” when it came to “history being made”.
“But at the same time, you’re focused on winning your match even though the circumstances are really much different than you.”
jr/cmk (AFP, Reuters, AP)
