Venus reaches quarters, Madison withdraws

LOS ANGELES: Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams held off Britain’s Heather Watson 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA hardcourt tournament in San Jose, California.

Third-seeded Venus is the highest seed left in a tournament that saw second-seed Madison Keys follow top-seeded Garbine Muguruza in pulling out because of injury on Thursday.

Madison, the defending champion, pulled out with a right wrist injury before taking the court for her second-round opener against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic.

“I have been feeling pain in my wrist over the last couple of days and felt worse today,” said Madison, who was replaced in the draw by lucky loser Magdalena Frech.

Ajla beat Poland’s Magdalena 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to book a quarterfinal clash with fifth-seeded Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu, a 75, 2-6, 6-1 winner over American teenager Amanda Anisimova.

Venus took on Greece’s Maria Sakkari, who dominated eighthseeded Hungarian Timea Babos 6-0, 6-1, late yesterday.

Venus, who won the title in this event in 2000 and 2002, came back with a vengeance after dropping the second set to Heather. She broke the Briton three times in the final set, dropping just four points on her serve.

“It was a tough match and she played incredible. There were times where I had no answers,” said Venus, who said her goal was to “control the points and enjoy the battle, just get out there and try to do what I know that I can. “It worked out, thankfully.” Mihaela said she felt the pressure against qualifier Amanda.

“She’s from the new generation, and I’m from the old one, and I knew the pressure would be on me because she has nothing to lose,” the Romanian said.