Serena Williams Faces Family Hurdle En Route to Calendar Slam
The Williams Family show took centre stage at the U.S. Open with Serena and Venus both cruising to straight set wins on Sunday to set up a monster quarter-final between the tennis siblings.
Whenever the Williams sisters clash on court it is a major tennis event but with older sister Venus, a twice U.S. Open winner, standing in the way of defending champion Serena's quest for a rare calendar-year grand slam their meeting on Tuesday has been elevated to a must-see sporting viewing.
While the National Tennis Center was abuzz over another Williams grand slam showdown, world number one Novak Djokovic was hard at work taming Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3 to reach his 26th consecutive grand slam quarter-final.
Only Roger Federer (36) and Jimmy Connors (27) have registered more consecutive grand slam quarter-final appearances than Djokovic since the slams began including professionals in 1968.
With Serena bidding to become just the fourth woman to win all four grand slams in the same year, the U.S. Open hype machine that already had been in top gear is now set to crank into overdrive.
The Williams sisters have met 26 times over their careers with Serena coming out on top 15-11 but meeting number 27 will have more than the usual family bragging rights riding on the outcome.
"Obviously getting to a Grand Slam semifinal is the next step toward the final. Pretty clear what's up for grabs here," said Venus. "I think people love to see history being made.
"No one is out to be a spoiler, but at the same time, you're focused on winning your match even though the circumstances are really much different than you.
"You still have to prepare, still have to play well.
"Even though you're playing your sister you have to be prepared and focus. The preparation doesn't change."
The 35-year-old Venus, seeded 23rd, overpowered 19-year-old qualifier Estonian Anett Kontaveit 6-2 6-1 in a ruthless fourth-round display that took just 50 minutes.
Serena followed her sister onto Arthur Ashe Stadium court and was no less efficient, routing fellow American Madison Keys 6-3 6-3 in 68 minutes.
"She's playing great," 33-year-old Serena said about seven-times grand slam winner Venus, who is two years her elder. "I have to really be ready for that.
"At least one of us, a Williams, will be in the semis."