A rejuventated Venus rolls into 4th round

Venus Williams is 36, suffering from Sjogren’s syndrome and in the waning stages of her career. But she seems more vibrant than vulnerable, having as much fun on the court as ever.

After playing her way into the second week of the U.S. Open with a 6-1, 6-2 third-round rout of Laura Siegemund, she was positively glowing.

Williams is playing some of the best tennis of her life, and savoring every second and every shot. After finishing 2011 ranked just 103rd and failing to reach the second week of a single Grand Slam from 2012-14, she now has accomplished that milestone in five of the past seven majors. So what’s her secret?

“That’s a good question. It’s just a lot of willpower,” Williams said. “That’s really what it is. I started to feel better more consistently this year, so I’m always trying to find things to help me feel my best. But even if I’m not feeling great, I still manage to get a good fight in out there.

“I’d say that everything I’ve gone through has proven to me that I love the game, because to be out here is an effort, to say the least. So it’s proved that I love this clearly enough to go through this. [But] to reach perfection is something I still expect from myself, no matter whatever it is I’m going through.”

Williams, as her mom Oracene watched, wasn’t perfect on Saturday, but she was dominant.

Siegemund, 28, was outmatched from the start. Williams’ domination on her first serve (73 percent) was expected, but her forehand returns harried her German foe into 32 forced errors and 26 more unforced ones. And afterward, Williams talked about her mother, not just her “mean backhand” by support.

“My mom was the kind of athlete that could play anything that she tried,” said Williams, who added she drew inspiration from her mother. “She was very competitive at tennis. She didn’t start tennis until the early ’80s, so she started that later in life. But she caught on quite quickly. She could really hit the ball.

“She spent a lot of hours with us on the court, and right until this day it’s amazing how much time she’s put into this.I don’t know how she stays and stays and stays. I guess it’s called true love.”

Williams will face big-serving No. 10 seed Karolina Pliskova, whom she edged 7-5, 7-6 (6) in their only other meeting, last year in Zhuhai, China.

“We play kind of a similar game,” Williams said. “So it’s about one of us playing that game better. I haven’t played her that often. So go out there and put the ball in the court, try to win.”