Venus closes on showdown with Serena after third-round cruise
Sunday 4 September 2016 09:15, UK
Venus Williams moved to within two wins of a possible showdown with sister Serena after beating German 26th seed Laura Siegemund to reach the US Open fourth round.
The sixth-seeded Williams came up big on the critical points to make quick work of Siegemund in a 6-1 6-2 victory in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The oldest player in the women's draw at 36 repelled seven of nine break points held by the German, and capitalised on six of 10 of her own break opportunities.
"Just doing what I have to do, being able to dominate when I need to," said Venus, who could face Serena in the semi-final.
"Being in control of the points, so even if I lose a point, I feel like, OK, I'm in a position to win the point. That's where I want to be every single time."
Williams, a seven-times grand slam singles winner and twice US Open champion, has enjoyed some recent success, reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the final at Stanford.
Siegemund appeared poised to offer the American a good test, coming off a productive stretch in which she made the semi-finals in Bucharest, won in Bastad and reached the quarter-finals at the Rio Olympics.
But she wilted under the raw power of Williams, who forced her into 32 errors and was gifted with 26 unforced miscues in the 78-minute match.
Venus will now face big-serving, 10th-seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in the last 16.
