On Saturday she did so in dominant and further record-setting fashion, thumping unseeded Swede Johanna Larsson 6-2, 6-1 to move into the round of 16 and record an Open Era record 307th win at a grand slam tournament.
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Not only has she surpassed Navratilova for most Grand Slam wins by a woman, she’s one match victory away from surpassing Roger Federer’s mark for men.
Larsson, who equaled her career-best finish at the U.S. Open by virtue of defeating Denisa Allertova in the second round, proved just why she is now in the midst of a career-best season, getting on the scoreboard a game later, much to the delight of a very appreciative crowd inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“It was a really good match for me because she played a different type of game”, Serena added.
Williams eventually secured the 6-1, 6-2 win after a final exchange up at net from both players.
A record seventh U.S. Open title would give Williams 23 career grand slams, moving her past Steffi Graf again for the most in the Open Era, and just one shy of Margaret Court who tops the all-time list with 24.
Williams will go for win number 308 on Tuesday (AEST) when she meets Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova – a 6-2, 7-5 victor over China’s Zhang Shuai – in round four.
“Obviously I’m excited about that”, she said.
Sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan, two years removed from his run to the final, rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Frances Nicolas Mahut.
The top seed was not at her blistering best against her King, making 28 unforced errors, but this was her second straight-sets victory and she was in control throughout.
“I have played her once before, actually, in my first Australian Open qualifying, so I do know her”, Konta said. “I have been being moving a lot”. Dan Evans of Britain faded in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 loss to No. 3 Stan Wawrinka.
Indoors or outdoors, night or day, rain or shine, it has made little difference to Serena at the US Open, the 34-year-old having now racked up 86 victories at Flushing Meadows.
“It’s always good to win by saving match point”.
A victory by Williams in the next round could set up a quarterfinal match against No. 5 seed Simona Halep, a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victor over No. 31 seed Timea Babos.
Head-to-head: Tied, 5-5 Key Stat: Halep has won 20 of her last 22 matches.
Venus went first and showed that at 36, she is still one of the best players around.
“That means everything”, Radwanska said of a chance to advance to the round of 16 in Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career.
Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland overcame France’s Caroline Garcia 6-2 6-3 and will face either American Varvara Lepchenko or Ana Konjuh of Croatia next.
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“I don’t know how I came back”, Halep said.
