Venus Williams into US Open quarters
— -- NEW YORK -- Venus Williams sprinted into the US Open quarterfinals, where she could meet younger sister Serena.
Venus Williams dispatched Estonian qualifier Anett Kontaveit, 6-2, 6-1, in a fourth-round match Sunday that required only 50 minutes.
The No. 1-seeded Serena followed Venus on Arthur Ashe Stadium in a match against rising young American Madison Keys.
In her on-court interview, Venus was asked about her rivalry with Serena.
"It's been awesome," said Venus, the No. 23 seed. "I'm so proud of Serena, and I think she's proud of me. We inspire each other."
Venus won 51 of 79 points and broke Kontaveit's serve four times. Venus was unbroken, losing only nine points on her serve.
For Kontaveit, ranked No. 152, it was the seventh match in 10 days and her first appearance in the fourth round of a major.
Venus, the oldest player left in the women's draw at 35 years old, is into the second week of the tournament for the first time in five years. Kontaveit, 19, hadn't been born when Venus turned professional in 1994. Venus defeated 18-year-old Belinda Bencic in the previous round.
This was a quick match for Venus, her easiest of the tournament, which should serve her well in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
From 1997 to 2012, Venus had a .500 record or better in three-set matches. Then, when effects of her immune condition, Sjogren's syndrome, set in, she went 6-6 in 2013 and 10-11 in 2014.
This year, despite still not being able to practice for long periods of time, she's 8-3 -- including the first and second rounds here.
A two-time champion here (2001-02), Venus is playing her 17th US Open. Was she planning to watch the match between Serena and Keys?
"I don't know," Venus said. "It depends. After the match, you have to cool down and do this thing they call press.
"I get very nervous [watching]. Even though I have to play her, I want her to win. I hope we play in the quarterfinals."
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