Retired Sevastova beats Konta, into US Open quarterfinals

That moved Williams into a round of 16 clash against big-serving, 10th-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova, a 6-2 6-4 victor against Russian 17th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

“I felt like I didn’t play my best but I was fighting to the end for every ball”, she said.

Her next victory, likely to come against Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, would most likely generate more discussion about whether Williams is one of the best athletes, male or female, of all time. Anastasija Sevastova sprang the first surprise of the second week at the Flushing Meadows, taking out the 13th seeded Johanna Konta, beating her 6-4, 7-5.

Larisa Savchenko was the last Latvian woman to make the quarterfinals of a Slam at Wimbledon in 1994.

Williams has yielded no more than three games in any of the six sets she played in her first three matches, and she has shown no signs of problems from a shoulder injury that plagued her in recent weeks. That total surpassed Martina Navratilova for the most in women’s tennis history and tied Roger Federer for the most by any player.

Williams will go for number 308 and a step closer to what would be a record seventh US Open title when she meets Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova, a 6-2 7-5 victor over China’s Zhang Shuai, in round four.

While Williams encountered little resistance, it was another story for the top mens seeds in action. “It’s always something special, that’s for sure”, said Wawrinka, who had his left ankle taped after twisting it during the match.

“Just doing what I have to do, being able to dominate when I need to”, Williams told reporters. “It was a tough battle and Im happy to get through.”.

“I know it sounds bad, but honestly, at this point I’m like, I really don’t care what my ranking is”, she said. “I was looking for those cheap points too often.”.

The Swiss will play Illya Marchenko in the fourth round after Nick Kyrgios was forced to retire from his clash with the Ukrainian.

Del Potro took apart David Ferrer in straight sets, icing on what has been a season of success for the 6-foot-6 Argentine.

While, Stan Wawrinka faced tough challenge from Great Britain’s Daniel Evans with a hard-fought five-set 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (10-8), 6-2 win, Japan’s Kei Nishikori defeated Mahut Nicolas of France 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Angelique Kerber, the No. 2 seed, could overtake Williams at No. 1 if the two meet in the final (seemingly a probability) and Kerber wins.

Despite an error-strewn performance, Andy Murray downed Paolo Lorenzi 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 to book a fourth-round meeting with Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov.

Sixth seed Venus, twice the champion in NY, faces Karolina Pliskova, the big-serving 10th seed from the Czech Republic.

He previously reached the fourth round at the US Open in 2014.

Sixth seed Venus Williams, whose seven Grand Slam titles include US Open crowns in 2000 and 2001, opens the night session on Ashe against 26th-seeded Laura Siegemund.

That’s pretty awesome. and what better place to do it than here where it all started.