NEW YORK, NY, USA - Venus Williams fended off a valiant challenge from Shahar Peer in the first set then stormed through the second set Sunday to claim her spot in the quarterfinals of this year's US Open.
Peer, the No.16 seed here, had traditionally struggled with Williams, never winning a set - in fact, never even winning more than four games in a set - in their five previous meetings. But a more aggressive game, including a series of laser-like forehands, helped her break the barrier in the first set, even saving five set points in her 5-6 service game to push it to a tie-beak. But an even more aggressive Williams was all over the forecourt in the breaker, taking it, 7-3.
Williams cruised in the second set, breaking serve in the third game and never really looking back en route to a 76(3) 63 victory.
"Every time I played Venus before I had a tough time and she was always kind of killing me every time," Peer said. "She's always there. She knows what she's doing, and I'm sure she's going to play better every match. This was much closer than our other matches though. For me it was a good performance."
"I know it's not going to be something I just walk through when I play against her," Williams commented afterwards. "It's always good to have a tough match where you have to challenge yourself and stay tough and positive."
On Friday, Williams was wearing a black fireworks dress; against Peer she was wearing the fireworks dress again, but in red. "I have some more colors, but so far I've worn the ones I like the best. We'll see how I feel in the next round, if I just do a repeat or something new. The dresses are super fun, hopefully just as much fun as my game is, and seeing that kind of fun in big shots."
Check out 20 of Venus' best career moments in this special gallery!
Next up for Williams is No.6 seed Francesca Schiavone, who got one break en route to winning the first set then absolutely steamrolled No.20 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second set earlier in the day, 63 60.
"For me, it's fantastic to be here. I feel better than when I was in the French Open," Schiavone said. "Today was not easy. With wind it was maybe better for me because I have spin, and Pavlyuchenkova couldn't play her backhand so well. I just tried to focus on playing my best and I'm happy to win today."
Williams leads Schiavone in their head-to-head, 7-0, although three of those seven meetings went to three sets - including both matches this year.
Clijsters was the first player to advance on Day 7, needing just 59 minutes to storm past Ana Ivanovic in the first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, 62 61.
"I felt like I was dictating really well and using the two sides of the court really well, with the wind or without it," said Clijsters, who has now won 18 straight matches at the Open. "I want to keep it going. I've always enjoyed playing here."
"Kim has a really good chance to win this title," Ivanovic said of the No.2 seed and defending champion. "She's playing very well and lifts her game up when she needs to. That's what all of the big champions do."
Clijsters will next face either No.5 seed Samantha Stosur or No.12 seed Elena Dementieva, who played under the lights in the night session.
