NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Williams Family show took centre stage at the U.S. Open with Serena and Venus both winning 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 event.
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 sibling rivalry riding on the outcome.
"Obviously getting to a Grand Slam semi-final 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."
Defending champion Marin Cilic kicked off centre court action on another sunny day at the National Tennis Centre and was the first man through to the last eight, taking down determined Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3 2-6 7-6(2) 6-1 to extend his Flushing Meadows win streak to 11 matches.
Coming off a punishing five-setter with Mikhail Kukushkin in a third-round match that lasted four hours, Cilic took a while to find his power game but was unstoppable once he did, the ninth seeded Croat blasting 23 aces past 27th seed Chardy, who had no answer.
"Key today was finding my rhythm on the serve, especially towards the end of the third set," said Cilic. "I played really good in the fourth set, really great tennis, so I'm happy about it."
After splitting the opening two sets, Cilic's power began to show through, particularly in the third set tiebreak when he used his big serve to full advantage firing four aces and going up 6-1 before closing out 7-2.
Four Frenchmen made the round of 16, a U.S. Open record, and at least one advanced to the quarter-finals, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beating countryman Benoit Paire 6-4 6-3 6-4.
