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{blackbabes} 'Untouchable' Serena on path for another U.S. Open crown, says Venus

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venus Williams said she believes her sister Serena could be on track to claim her seventh U.S. Open title if she maintains the form she showed in their third-round clash on Friday.

The seven-times Grand Slam champion was humbled 6-1 6-2 by her younger sister in their 30th career meeting and said it was the best she had seen Serena play against her.

"She played untouchable tennis," Venus said after the 72-minute match, during which the 17th seed Serena fired down 10 aces.

Winning the tournament would add a 24th Grand Slam singles title to Serena's name to tie the record of Australian Margaret Court.

"Whoever she plays, she's going to earn it," Venus said. "It's not like people don't try. People will try against her."

The evening match at Arthur Ashe Stadium saw Venus succumb to her equal worst defeat at the hands of her sister.

Serena next faces Estonia's Kaia Kanepi, who ousted top seed Simona Halep in the first round.

"Obviously I hope she doesn't play that well against me every time because I don't think anyone has a chance," Venus added.

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{blackbabes} Serena Williams: Athletes should be grateful for Kaepernick

NEW YORK — Serena Williams said every athlete "should be completely grateful and honoured" for the protests started by former NFL players Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid.

Kaepernick and Reid, two former San Francisco 49ers now out of the league, were each given huge ovations when they were introduced and shown on the big screen during the match between Serena and Venus Williams at the U.S. Open on Friday night. Serena Williams said she was focused on the match and did not notice the pair in the stands. Reid raised his fist and Kaepernick smiled for the fans.

Kaepernick tweeted a photo of his young niece with Serena and wrote, "Lani lost it when Serena surprised her after the match!!! Thank you so much Serena !!!"

Serena said she was grateful for the stand they took that has seen both players take on the NFL. An arbitrator is sending Kaepernick's grievance with the NFL to trial, denying the league's request to throw out the quarterback's claims that owners conspired to keep him out of the league because of his protests of social injustice. A similar grievance is still pending by unsigned safety Eric Reid, who played with Kaepernick in San Francisco and joined in the protests.

Kaepernick began a wave of protests by NFL players two seasons ago, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. The protests have grown into one of the most polarizing issues in sports, with President Donald Trump loudly urging the league to suspend or fire players who demonstrate during the anthem.

"I think every athlete, every human, and definitely every African-American should be completely grateful and honoured how Colin and Eric are doing so much more for the greater good, so to say," Serena said. "They really use their platform in ways that is really unfathomable. I feel like they obviously have great respect from a lot of their peers, especially other athletes, people that really are looking for social change."

Serena Williams equaled her most-lopsided victory ever in 30 professional meetings with sister Venus, beating her 6-1, 6-2 in the third round.

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{blackbabes} Serena Williams easily beats sister Venus in third round of U.S. Open

NEW YORK — Serena Williams equaled her most-lopsided victory ever in 30 professional meetings with sister Venus, beating her 6-1, 6-2 on Friday night in the third round of the U.S. Open.

Serena shook off an early ankle injury to win seven straight games and seize control in perhaps her most dominant performance since giving birth to her a daughter a year ago Saturday.

The sisters' earliest meeting in a Grand Slam tournament in 20 years was over early, with Venus unable to do anything to blunt Serena's power, even after the crowd tried desperately to get behind her early in the second set.

They hadn't played this early in a Grand Slam since Venus won in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open in their first meeting as pros, and only once over the next two decades had either won so decisively, when Serena won by the same score in a semifinal victory in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2013.

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{blackbabes} U.S. Open … and shut: Stephens gets past Azarenka indoors

NEW YORK — Sloane Stephens doesn't betray much emotion on the court, so all of the double fist pumps at the conclusion of her U.S. Open match against former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka made perfectly clear just how tight and tense things had been.

Stephens, the defending champion and No. 3 seed, grabbed the last three games after returning from a brief break while the Arthur Ashe Stadium's roof was shut Friday and pulled out a 6-3, 6-4 victory over two-time runner-up Azarenka to reach the fourth round.

What helped Stephens after the 8-minute delay?

"Just kind of refocusing," she said.

Stephens went from up a set and a break at 3-1 in the second to down 4-3 when Azarenka took three games in a row. With light rain falling, play was halted while the cover was closed — although play carried on everywhere else, including the new Louis Armstrong Stadium, the only other arena at Flushing Meadows with a retractable roof.

"The man upstairs was looking out for me," Stephens said. "Unlucky for her."

When they resumed, she took control.

"I mean, of course it was a change of momentum. I won't be sitting here finding excuses; it's just what happens. You just have to accept (it)," said Azarenka, a former No. 1 who won the Australian Open twice and lost to Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final twice. "I just think from the tournament side, if they (are) expecting the showers, I think it might be better to just close the roof right from the beginning. I think it would just be smarter."

This was a match filled with lengthy exchanges and some fantastic shotmaking by both women.

Stephens was just a bit better, particularly on the most crucial points. She won half of Azarenka's 10 service games. And Stephens also made 10 fewer unforced errors, 27-17.

This is Stephens' sixth Grand Slam tournament since she had foot surgery in January 2017, and the other five followed a boom-or-bust pattern: In two, she reached the final, including at the French Open in June; in the other three, she exited in the first round.

This time, the American will seek a quarterfinal spot when she faces No. 15 Elise Mertens of Belgium on Sunday.

Mertens, who beat Stephens at a recent hard-court tuneup tournament, reached the fourth round in New York for the first time by defeating No. 23 Barbora Strycova 6-3, 7-6 (4). The other fourth-round matchup in that quarter will be No. 7 Elina Svitolina against No. 19 Anastasija Sevastova.

Scheduled for later Friday was the most-anticipated matchup of the women's field so far: Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams, Part 30. It's their earliest meeting at a Grand Slam tournament in 20 years.

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{blackbabes} No heat rule ahead of hotly-anticipated Williams sisters matchup

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. Open tennis fans were gearing up for the most anticipated match of the tournament so far on Friday with Serena and Venus Williams set to meet for the 30th time and extend a sibling rivalry that has endured for two decades.

The pair will face each other for the sixth time at their home Grand Slam, but will be spared the searing heat that has marked the opening days of the tournament when they step onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

Tournament officials said there was no heat rule in effect on Friday for the first time in three days, with cloud cover expected to bring cooler temperatures.

Serena leads 16th seed Venus 17-12 in their head to head record, but most recently lost to her older sister at Indian Wells in March.

Seventeenth seed Serena, however, defeated Venus in straight sets in the 2017 Australian Open final, their last Grand Slam encounter.

With 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, Serena came to this year's tournament in search of a seventh U.S. Open title.

Third-seeded Sloane Stephens will continue the defense of her U.S. Open title against twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who leads her American opponent 3-2 head to head.

On the men's side, world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal faces Russian 27th-seed Karen Khachanov in Arthur Ashe Stadium, while Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro will be favorite in his third-round match against Spain's Fernando Verdasco having won four of their five previous encounters.

John Isner will continue his bid to end a 15-year title drought for American men when he plays un-seeded Serb Dusan Lajovic, after surviving a brutal five-set second-round match against Chilean Nicolas Jarry.

Fans and players can expect much-welcomed cloud cover and cooler temperatures, with a high of just 76 Fahrenheit (24.4 Celsius) according to the National Weather Service.

Tournament officials had imposed a heat rule on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in an effort to relieve players from the sweltering temperatures, but had not implemented the measure on Friday morning.

Several players were forced to retire from play due to heat-related issues during the week, as temperatures climbed above 90 Fahrenheit (32.2 Celsius).

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{blackbabes} Williams sister act extended to 30th meeting

NEW YORK (Reuters) - It takes something special to grab the spotlight on a Friday night in the Big Apple but few contests attract more attention than Williams v Williams and the tennis sisters have New York buzzing as they prepare to clash for a 30th time.

A fascinating sibling rivalry that spans two decades will be renewed at the U.S. Open under the Arthur Ashe Stadium floodlights when Serena and Venus Williams meet in a third round contest.

It will mark the sixth time the sisters have stared down each other at Flushing Meadows, including twice in the final.

"We're use to it now," said Serena, as the hype machine shot into overdrive following their second round victories on Wednesday. "I never would have thought that we would still be playing professional."

Williams v Williams matches are complex and nuanced, filled with equal amounts of tortured angst and unbridled joy.

Asked if she could have all her titles and Venus all hers without having ever had to play each other, Serena said she would happily accept that deal.

But in that bargain the Williams would have been deprived of a rivalry that elevated their careers and fans a contest that lifted the sport.

"Unfortunately and fortunately we have to play each other," said Serena. "We make each other better.

"I feel like throughout our career, we have pushed each other to be the best that we can be.

"We bring out the best when we play each other.

"It's what we do."

Their tennis storyline that weaves its way through 20 years began in 1998 when the pair looked across the net at each other for the first time as professionals at the Australian Open.

When they walk out onto center court on Friday, surely in the autumn of their careers, Serena will have assumed top billing.

She has 72 career titles, including 23 grand slams and more than $86 million in prize money while Venus has 49 trophies, seven grand slams and almost $41 million in earnings.

Head to head Serena leads 17-12.

Their clashes have delivered heart-pounding drama but just as often disappointed, unable to rise to the towering expectations as the competitive instincts that have made them two of the all-time greats appears to burn with less intensity whenever they face each other.

"I never root against her, no matter what," said Serena. "I think that's the toughest part for me.

"When you always want someone to win, to have to beat them. I know the same thing is for her.

"When she beats me, she always roots for me as well.

"I think that's just the hardest part."

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{blackbabes} US Open glance: Williams vs. Williams highlights 3rd round

 

A quick look at the U.S. Open:

LOOKAHEAD TO FRIDAY

The highlight of the Day 5 schedule is Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams in the third round, the 30th tour-level meeting between the sisters and their earliest matchup at a Grand Slam tournament in 20 years. Their very first head-to-head showdown came in the second round at the Australian Open in 1998. Venus won that one, but Serena leads their series 17-12, including 10-5 at majors. Given that Venus is 38, and Serena turns 37 next month, the question is: How many all-in-the-family matches do they have left. That will open the night session in Arthur Ashe Stadium, and be followed by 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro against No. 31 seed Fernando Verdasco. Two intriguing encounters involving the defending U.S. Open champions are scheduled to be played in Ashe during the afternoon: Sloane Stephens against two-time runner-up and former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, and Rafael Nadal against up-and-comer Karen Khachanov, who is seeded 27th.

FRIDAY'S FORECAST

Cloudy, chance of rain. High of 77 degrees (25 Celsius).

THURSDAY'S WEATHER

Sunny. High of 90 degrees (32 Celsius).

THURSDAY'S KEY RESULTS

Men's second round: No. 2 Roger Federer beat Benoit Paire 7-5, 6-4, 6-4; No. 4 Alexander Zverev beat Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-4, 6-2; John Millman beat No. 14 Fabio Fognini 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1; Mikhail Kukushkin beat No. 23 Hyeon Chung 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-3; No. 30 Nick Kyrgios beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3, 6-0.

Women's second round: No. 4 Angelique Kerber beat Johanna Larsson 6-2, 5-7, 6-4; No. 5 Petra Kvitova beat Yafan Wang 7-5, 6-3; No. 6 Caroline Garcia beat Monica Puig 6-2, 1-6, 6-4; No. 10 Jelena Ostapenko beat Taylor Townsend 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Aliaksandra Sasnovich beat No. 11 Daria Kasatkina 6-2, 7-6 (3); No. 14 Madison Keys beat Bernarda Pera 6-4, 6-1.

STAT OF THE DAY

11 - Double-faults by Kasatkina, with zero aces, in her loss.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

''I know what I was doing out there wasn't good.'' - Kyrgios, on his lack of effort during a match, prompting the chair umpire to climb down from his seat and go talk to the player.

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{blackbabes} 20 years on, Williams-Williams in a Slam

NEW YORK (AP) -- Back when Serena Williams, then 16, and Venus Williams, then 17, played each other on tour for the very first time, at the Australian Open in January 1998, no one possibly could have known it would start a series that would last for two decades.

Actually, Serena did sort of predict it.

''What you guys saw today,'' she said after losing to Venus way back then, ''is definitely something in the future to watch for.''

Well, here we are: Williams vs. Williams, Part 30.

When the two sisters meet in the third round of the U.S. Open on Friday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium, it will be their earliest Grand Slam matchup since that initial one 20 years ago. And across their tremendous journeys in tennis, through all of the victories and the trophies and the weeks at No. 1 in the WTA rankings, they've done it together.

Each set a standard for the other to strive for.

Each also helped the other during practice sessions and pep talks.

''I know when I play her, I have to play some of my best tennis. She does, too. It propels us to continue to play that for the tournament. It sets a tone for us,'' said Serena, who'll turn 37 in less than a month.

''I feel like throughout our career, we have pushed each other to be the best that we can be,'' she added, ''and be Venus and Serena Williams.''

Their story is certainly unique. And one that's still worth marveling at.

Two kids from one household, growing up to rule their sport. Serena owns 23 Grand Slam singles titles; Venus has seven. Both have been ranked No. 1. They also ushered in an era of women's tennis featuring a power-based style, built on big serves and groundstrokes, along with enviable court coverage, that transformed the game.

''Obviously, they have been holding the torch for a long time. Venus and Serena have been incredible advocates for our sport and, yes, they inspire so many,'' U.S. Fed Cup captain Kathy Rinaldi said, adding that ''a lot of credit goes to them'' for the rise of younger American stars such as Sloane Stephens, the 2017 champion at Flushing Meadows, and Madison Keys, last year's runner-up.

On top of it all, they transcended their sport, becoming cultural icons and fashion trendsetters, and have also spoken out about issues to help others - from Venus' advocacy for equal prize money in tennis to Serena's recent discussions of her health scare during childbirth and postpartum depression.

''It's incredible what they've done. I mean, amazing, really. Obviously there's been other siblings that have had fantastic careers in tennis, but none anywhere close to what they've managed to achieve,'' three-time major champion Andy Murray said. ''I'd be surprised if anything like that ever happens again.''

On the court, Serena leads their head-to-head series 17-12. She leads 10-5 at Grand Slam tournaments.

They grew accustomed - as did the world - to seeing them meet for all-in-the-family major finals, nine in all, with Serena ahead 7-2 in that category, too.

So a Week 1 showdown seems a tad anticlimactic.

Said Venus: ''I mean, obviously, it's early in the tournament.''

Said Serena: ''We would have rather met later.''

''I'm sure they will hate it - both of them hate this - but I think it's going to be beautiful for tennis,'' said Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Australian Open champion who lost to Serena in two U.S. Open finals.

The all-Williams title match at the 2001 U.S. Open , the tournament's first women's final in prime time, was the first Grand Slam final between two sisters since the 1800s. Venus won that one; Serena won their rematch in New York a year later.

''Unfortunately, and fortunately, we have to play each other. We make each other better. We bring out the best when we play each other. It's what we do,'' Serena said. ''I think we're used to it now.''

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{blackbabes} Serena v Venus - episode 30: Who's saying what

 

New York (AFP) - Who's saying what as Serena and Venus Williams meet for the 30th time on Friday at the US Open:

-- ANDY MURRAY --

"I think both of them are great athletes. I think they both move extremely well. Obviously Serena's got a great serve, they both hit the ball big from the back of the court. They're both fantastic athletes. They're still moving extremely well. Maybe not as well as they were a few years ago, but they're still two of the best movers on the tour. Venus covers a lot of ground. She has very, very long strides. Serena is sort of a very strong, powerful mover.

"It's incredible what they've done. I mean, amazing really. Obviously there's been other siblings that have had fantastic careers in tennis, but none anywhere close to what they've managed to achieve. I'd be surprised if anything like that ever happens again."

-- JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO --

"I think everybody loves to watch them playing each other. They create a special atmosphere every time. When I was kid, I loved to watch both of them playing for the finals of Grand Slams. The good thing is nobody knows who's going to win. Now they are both trying to play her best again, and could be interesting match to watch."

-- SLOANE STEPHENS --

"Well, I think it will be a great match. They are great competitors and they always play really hard against each other. Obviously, it's tough to play your sibling, so that's an added element. I think they have always played really good matches and super competitive."

-- ELINA SVITOLINA --

"Definitely I'm going to watch this match. It's a big clash of two legends. I have lots of respect for both of them. And when they are playing against each other, it's always very entertaining, great passion, they both bring their best. I always, always try to watch those kind of matches, because it gives you this extra motivation to work harder and to reach your goals. Serena, after having a child, and Venus, playing for so many years in such a high level, it's very rare that you can see that in sports. That's why I'm very lucky to play in the same time as they are."

-- VICTORIA AZARENKA --

"It's going to be exciting for the fans. I'm sure they (Serena and Venus) will hate it but I think it's going to be beautiful for tennis. They are such different individuals and such different characters on the court."

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{blackbabes} Serena v Venus - six memorable matches

Back then: Serena holds the championship trophy after her victory over Venus in the 2017 Australian Open final

New York (AFP) - Serena and Venus Williams will meet for a place in the US Open last 16 on Friday. AFP Sport looks at six of the most memorable clashes between the American sisters whose rivalry stretches 20 years.

1998 Australian Open 2nd rd

Nowhere near a classic -- it was a described as 'sub-par' by one newspaper -- but noteworthy as it was the first meeting between the two sisters. Both appeared sporting beads in their hair. Venus, 17 at the time, triumphed 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 which was expected as she was ranked 16 in the world while 16-year-old Serena was down at 53.

2003 Australian Open final

One of the most dramatic finals between the sisters came in the heat of Melbourne, when Serena clinched the last Grand Slam title to elude her with a tension-filled 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4 victory.

It was only the sixth time a woman had held all four of Grand Slams at the same time, and the first since Steffi Graf in 1994.

Venus made unwanted history as the first woman to lose four straight Grand Slam finals.

2008 Wimbledon final

Venus clinched her fifth Wimbledon title with a 7-5, 6-4 win in one of the few really high-quality clashes between the pair at the All England Club.

Venus defied blustery conditions to become one of only four players to lift the trophy five times or more in the modern era.

She sealed the historic victory when Serena fired a backhand wide, but her celebrations were muted as she hugged her sister at the net.

2009 Dubai semi-final

Venus beat top ranked Serena 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (7/3) to take a 10-9 lead in the sibling rivalry.

It was Venus's fifth win in their last seven meetings but Serena earned plenty of plaudits as well for defying the pain of a knee injury that had forced her to retire from a tournament the previous week.

It was only the second time a set had gone all the way to a tie-break in their 19 career meetings to that point.

2009 Wimbledon final

Serena ended Venus's two-year reign as Wimbledon champion with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory that secured her a third All England Club crown.

It was the fourth time the sisters had met in a Wimbledon final, with Serena, who now held the Wimbledon, Australian and US Open crowns, winning three of those showpiece showdowns.

She regained the Wimbledon title she won in 2002 and 2003, and shattered five-time champion Venus's hopes of lifting the trophy for a third successive year.

2017 Australian Open final

Serena secured her seventh Australian Open and an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory, just one shy of Australian Margaret Court's all-time mark of 24.

It may not have been a classic clash but the enormity of the achievement only became clearer later when it was revealed that Serena was already pregnant with daughter Olympia.

"The last time we met at a Grand Slam, it was two against one," joked Venus after making the third round of the US Open on Wednesday.

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{blackbabes} Serena, Venus set up Williams vs. Williams match at US Open

NEW YORK (AP) -- Get ready for the latest Grand Slam installment of Williams vs. Williams. One big difference this time: The superstar siblings will be meeting in the third round at the U.S. Open, their earliest showdown at a major tournament in 20 years.

Serena Williams set up the highly anticipated matchup at Flushing Meadows by hitting 13 aces and overwhelming 101st-ranked Carina Witthoeft of Germany 6-2, 6-2 in a little more than an hour in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday night. Hours earlier, across the way at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Venus Williams did her part with another straight-set victory, eliminating 40th-ranked Camila Giorgi of Italy 6-4, 7-5.

''I hope,'' Venus said after her match, ''we get to play.''

Serena made sure of it.

They will play Friday, and it is going to be their 30th tour-level encounter - plus, of course, all those times when they traded shots from across the net as kids in California, then on practice courts all around the world. It's also soonest the sisters have played each other at any Grand Slam since their very first tour match, all the way back at the 1998 Australian Open. Venus won that one. But since then, it's been the younger Serena who's grown dominant.

The reason this match comes so early is that their rankings are not what they've been in the past. Serena is No. 26, playing in only the seventh tournament since she was off the tour for more than a year while having a baby. Even though the U.S. Tennis Association bumped her seeding up to reflect her past success, it still placed her at No. 17. Venus, meanwhile is No. 16.

''It's so young in the tournament,'' Serena said. ''We would have rather met later.''

She leads the series 17-12, including 10-5 at majors.

Both have been ranked No. 1. They have won a combined 30 Grand Slam singles trophies, 23 by Serena. They own eight U.S. Open singles championships, six by Serena.

They've played each other in the finals of all four Slams, including at the U.S. Open in 2001 (when Venus won) and 2002 (when Serena did).

''It's incredible what they've done. I mean, amazing really. Obviously there's been other siblings that have had fantastic careers in tennis, but none anywhere close to what they've managed to achieve,'' said three-time major champion Andy Murray, whose first major since hip surgery ended with a four-set loss to No. 31 Fernando Verdasco. ''I'd be surprised if anything like that ever happens again.''

Seeded women who advanced on another day with the temperature topping 95 degrees (33 Celsius) included No. 7 Elina Svitolina, No. 8 Karolina Pliskova, No. 15 Elise Mertens, No. 19 Anastasija Sevastova and No. 23 Barbora Strycova, all in straight sets. Past men's champions Juan Martin del Potro, who beat Dennis Kudla of the U.S., and Stan Wawrinka won, as did 2017 runner-up Kevin Anderson, and No. 11 seed John Isner.

Rafael Nadal was in action later Wednesday.

During her post-victory news conference, which came long before Serena set foot on court against Witthoeft, Venus clearly had little interest in entertaining questions about the possible all-in-the-family match.

''It's early in the tournament, so both of us are going to be looking forward to continuing to play better,'' Venus said. ''Obviously, it's definitely a tough draw.''

Later in her news conference, when a reporter tried to steer the conversation back to Williams vs. Williams, Venus offered this admonishment about the topic: ''You're beating it up now.''

She was ever-so-slightly more forthcoming during her on-court interview, joking, ''The last time we played, at the Australian, it was two against one,'' a reference to the fact that Serena was pregnant when she beat Venus in the 2017 Australian Open final.

''At least this time,'' Venus told the crowd, ''it'll be fair.''

Serena looked much more impressive Wednesday than her sister did, but the levels of competition were also different.

Of the 82 points that went Venus' way, only 13 came via her own winners. Giorgi had 29 winners, but also 41 unforced errors and 28 forced errors.

Serena, meanwhile, put together a 30-10 edge in winners.

''Normally, I would say cheer for me,'' she told spectators afterward. ''But whoever you're feeling like - me or Venus - it'll work.''

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{blackbabes} Venus wins at US Open, could meet Serena in 3rd round

 

NEW YORK (AP) -- Venus Williams did her part to set up an earlier-than-usual Grand Slam matchup with sister Serena at the U.S. Open, beating Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday.

Serena was scheduled to play at night, when a victory would have the Williams sisters meeting in the third round, earlier than they have in a Grand Slam in 20 years.

Defending champion Sloane Stephens and two-time U.S. Open finalist Victoria Azarenka will also meet in the third round after victories on another hot and humid day at the final Grand Slam tournament of the year, where winning wasn't enough.

Winning quickly and getting back indoors was on everyone's mind.

''Yeah, I'm very happy about that,'' Azarenka said after overpowering No. 25 seed Daria Gavrilova of Australia 6-1, 6-2.

Venus Williams was spared some of the most direct sun by playing in the rebuilt Louis Armstrong Stadium, which is well-shaded. But there was only so much protection available on a day when temperatures soared into the mid-90s for the second straight day.

''Maybe the hottest conditions I have every played (in),'' No. 20 seed Borna Coric said after winning his second-round match in straight sets.

An extreme heat rule was to remain in effect until further notice, allowing men to take a 10-minute break between the third and fourth set of singles matches, and women to do so between their second and third sets.

Serena, at No. 17 seeded one spot below her older sister, should face cooler conditions during a night match against Carina Witthoeft.

If she wins, the showdown with Venus would be the earliest between the Williams sisters at a Grand Slam tournament since they played in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open in their very first meeting on tour.

Stephens was in trouble early before rallying to beat Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Other seeded winners on the women's side included No. 8 Elina Svitolina, No. 15 Elise Mertens, No. 19 Anastasija Sevastova and No. 23 Barbora Strycova, all in straight sets.

''Especially with the heat, I wanted to make the match a little shorter,'' Mertens said.

Stan Wawrinka ran his U.S. Open winning streak to nine, and the 2016 champion will next meet No. 25 seed Milos Raonic. But No. 15 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was eliminated in the second round, a surprisingly early exit after his strong hard-court season.

Past U.S. Open champions Rafael Nadal, Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Murray were all in action later Wednesday - with 2009 winner del Potro and 2012 winner Murray to meet in the third round with victories.

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