Serena zooms past Venus again

Study the images of some of those old days – the aftermath of the 2008 Wimbledon final, for example, which was the last time Venus emerged successful from a Grand Slam meeting with her sister – and you will see the changes time has wrought.

LONDON – WORLD No1 Serena Williams won Monday’s latest clash with sister Venus 6-4 6-3 and eased into the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

And suddenly Venus was back in it, forcing two break points in Serena’s next match, the second of which saw the champion miss with a forehand, and the sisters were level.

Added Venus, in a news conference after the loss: “I think we’ve always dreamed, growing up, of playing at the highest level, playing each other“.

“I just thought, ‘Wow, I’m 33, and she just turned 35”.

Serena though kept bombing down the aces, and even though there was the odd ferocious reply, she was largely in control as she took the first set 6-4 – Venus blowing too hot and cold.

Victoria Azarenka shrugged off Eastbourne victor Belinda Bencic 6-2 6-3 to set up a meeting with Serena Williams, while America’s Madison Keys needed three sets to dismiss Olga Govortsova 3-6 6-4 6-1.

Serena was relieved to have beaten the only player she regards as her equal, in the process ensuring she remains on course to become the first woman since Steffi Graf in 1988 to win all four Grand Slams in the same year. Venus won one final, and also won a semifinal match against her younger sibling in 2000 – the first time they met on court at the tournament. The defeat means that ex- No. 1 Wozniacki has reached only one Grand Slam quarterfinal in her last 14 majors (2014 United States Open final). “So when that moment is over, it will be over”.

“I’m really happy to win in three sets”, said the fourth seed Swiss who is motoring under the radar during the fortnight. One of the greatest of all time. It’s the first time that’s happened since 2004 when Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport and Serena made it to the final eight.

Novak Djokovic admits it won’t get any easier after another straight sets demolition job at Wimbledon.

Never a fan of losing to her sibling – who would be?

Williams holds a 16-3 career advantage against Azarenka, including a 9-0 record in Grand Slam matches.

“I played solid”, said Serena.

Keys will play Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 runner-up, who beat Jelena Jankovic 7-5 6-4.

“But I just really was enjoying the moment out there”. She is 35 but said she expects to be back at Wimbledon next year.

(AP Photo/Tim Ireland). Maria Sharapova of Russian Federation makes a return to Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, during their singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday July 6, 2015.

“I definitely am the type of person that likes to have a laugh at themselves, especially when it looks like I have done something stupidly ridiculous”, the 23-year-old said.

French 21st seed Gasquet defeated Nick Kyrgios 7-5, 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (8/6) to avenge a second-round loss to the temperamental Australian in 2014.