Big sister Venus tipped 20-time grand slam champion Serena to become tennis’ greatest-ever player, after losing out 6-4 6-3 in the siblings’ first SW19 meeting in six years amid a hectic day of last-16 action.
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Madison Keys is the third American woman in the quarterfinals, the highest number in the last eight since 2004. They walked off the court together. “So I just took the moment in”.
LONDON – It was yet another awkward encounter that is unlikely to live long in the memory but Venus Williams showed that she was no sore loser when she whispered some “sisterly words” into Serena’s ear as they embraced at the net at Wimbledon on Monday.
While Williams, Sharapova and Azarenka have 27 Grand Slam titles between them, Radwanska, the 2012 Wimbledon runner-up, is the only one in the bottom half who has even been in a major final. Judging by her form, and how close she was to beating Serena the last two times, it’s tempting to say that Vika is due, and guess that fate will finally be on her side.
Monday’s victory improved her career record against Venus to 15-11, including 8-5 in Grand Slams and 4-2 at Wimbledon.
Taking on Venus hasn’t got any easier for Serena despite her winning record in their rivalry.
A further two break points were saved by Venus in the seventh game of the second set, but a double fault gifted a break to Serena.
Serena hit 35 winners to just 13 unforced errors and controlled the match from the beginning. Defending champion Novak Djovic and seven-time victor Roger Federer played late matches on Manic Monday with all 16 mens and womens fourth-round matches on the schedule.
Venus stated that it will take a special performance to deny her younger sister a sixth Wimbledon title, but the favourite is not getting ahead of herself.
Serena Williams is on a mission to win what would be a fourth major in a row, a sixth Wimbledon and a 21st Grand Slam title. “Very aggressive”, said Serena’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou.
Serena will face the victor of No. 23 Victoria Azarenka and No. 30 Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals.
The 33-year-old hit 36 winners and 10 aces to secure her 14th win in 26 meetings with her older sister, but it was clear neither sibling enjoyed it.
As for the match, “it was really good for me to get it done in straight sets and just put this behind me and move forward”, she said.
“I’m just going out there and doing the best I can”. Vandeweghe had never gone past the third round of any major until this years Wimbledon.Sharapova downed Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-4.
The match was a complete contrast to Serena’s three-set victory over Heather Watson on Friday when the British player came within a couple of points of beating the world No 1.
“Hopefully it will come a little later in the tournament, but I definitely think it could present itself again”. It was the previous year, in 2010, when she last reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
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The fourth-seeded Swiss beat Belgiums David Goffin 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7), 6-4.Vasek Pospisil rallied from two sets down to overcome No. 22 Viktor Troicki 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
