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Williams Sisters Move Into Quarterfinals

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By HOWARD FENDRICH, The Associated Press

Published: September 3, 2007

NEW YORK - When you hear about Serena and Venus Williams overpowering opponents, as happened Sunday at the U.S. Open to two recent Grand Slam finalists, it's easy to forget that the sisters are, indeed, individuals.

And as similar as their on-court styles might seem, all stinging serves and gargantuan ground strokes, they are not quite carbon copies.

That point was driven home by their father and coach, Richard, who sat courtside for the final game of Serena's 6-3, 6-4 victory against Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli, then watched Venus' 6-4, 6-2 win against French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic.

'Serena reminds me of a pit bulldog and a young Mike Tyson, all in one,' Dad said Sunday. 'Venus reminds me of a gazelle that's able to move, prance and jump. Venus looks as if she is really enjoying herself out there more than Serena is right now. If they get by everyone and meet each other, it will be an interesting match.'

Another all-Williams showdown is indeed nearing at Flushing Meadows, although unlike six previous meetings for major titles - Serena leads 5-1 in those finals, Venus leads 7-6 overall - this one would be a semifinal.

'That would be awesome because it would mean that there is a Williams in the final,' Venus said. She also noted: 'We have one more step.'

For Serena, it's a familiar one. She will face No. 1 Justine Henin in the quarterfinals at a third consecutive major, having lost to her at the French Open and Wimbledon. The older Williams plays No. 5 Jelena Jankovic, who beat No. 19 Sybille Bammer 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

'Yeah, we know each other pretty well,' Henin said after beating No. 15 Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-2 at night. 'I know everyone was waiting for that match, and here we are.'

Men's matches Sunday were in the third round, and No. 2 Rafael Nadal advanced without a hitch in his step - his taped-up knees have been bothering him - or his game, beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (3), 6-2, 6-1.

Next up for Nadal is a fellow Spaniard, No. 15 David Ferrer, who was one point from defeat before coming back to eliminate 2002 Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 in a match that included a 24-point game.

Nalbandian held a match point while ahead 5-4 in the fifth set with Ferrer serving. But the Argentine dumped a backhand into the net - and didn't win another game.

'I couldn't nail it down,' Nalbandian said. 'It's a pity.'

Winners included No. 3 Novak Djokovic, No. 17 Carlos Moya, No. 20 Juan Ignacio Chela, No. 23 Juan Monaco and unseeded Stanislas Wawrinka, who followed up his victory against Marat Safin by defeating Robby Ginepri of the United States 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Moya also won in five sets, edging Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, while Djokovic got past Juan Martin del Potro 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 at night.

Meanwhile, James Blake put in another long night's work at the Open, and his play only got better as the match went on.

The No. 6-seeded Blake, a Tampa resident, reached the fourth round by beating Stefan Koubek 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1 in a match that began Saturday night and finished a little after 1 a.m. Sunday.

By late in the third set, the ushers gave up on trying to keep order, and spectators walked through the aisles looking for good seats even during play. Normally in tennis, there's supposed to be movement in the stands only at changeovers.

'There's a million things to do on a Saturday night in New York City and for you guys to still be out here at 1 a.m., it really means a lot,' Blake told the crowd. 'You make me feel like I am out - I'm at a party here. This is a great feeling.'

One he might be getting used to.

Blake's previous match stretched past midnight, too. In that one, which started Thursday night, he needed nearly 3 1/2 hours to get past Fabrice Santoro for his first career fifth-set victory.

Before that, Blake's record in five-set matches was 0-9.

'As soon as I got that third set,' Blake said, 'I felt like I was going to build on that confidence and I started ripping.'

Both Williams sisters are two-time U.S. Open champions and both are getting in a groove as this Grand Slam goes on, just as Serena did en route to her eighth major title at the Australian Open in January, and Venus did en route to her sixth major title at Wimbledon in July.

'I'm still not where I want to be - or near,' Serena said. 'But I feel like I'm doing better, which is important.'

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