Serena matches her easiest win over Venus in US Open rout

Tennis

Slam since Venus won in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open in their first meeting as pros, and only once over the next two decades had either won so decisively. Serena won by the same score in a semifinal victory in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2013.

“I think it’s the best match she’s ever played against me,” Venus said. “I don’t think I did a lot wrong. But she just did everything right.”

Serena, the No. 17 seed, will face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who knocked out topranked Simona Halep in the first round.

Serena, who turns 37 next month, leads the series 18-12 with her sister, 11-5 in Grand Slam tournaments. But this one wasn’t expected to be so easy, not with Serena still working her way back into form after returning to the tour in the spring.

But this was the type of tennis that has brought her to 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the ability to pound balls all over the court and chase down the rare shots that looked like they might get past her.

“Obviously that level is definitely where she’s going to want to stay during this whole tournament,” Venus said.

Del Potro through to fourth round

Juan Martin del Potro is through to the fourth round.

The 2009 champion beat No. 31 seed Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 7-6 (6), 6-3 in the final match of the night.

Next up for del Potro, the No. 3 seed, is No. 20 seed Borna Coric.

Stan Wawrinka’s return is over

The 2016 champion was eliminated by No. 25 seed Milos Raonic of Canada 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-3 in the third round. Wawrinka’s nine-match winning streak in Flushing Meadows was snapped.

Raonic will face No. 11 seed John Isner in the fourth round.

Dominic Thiem also through

Dominic Thiem has won another lengthy match to reach the fourth round.

The No. 9 seed beat American Taylor Fritz 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a match that lasted 3 hours, 19 minutes.

Each of the last two sets took more than an hour before Thiem moved on to a matchup with either 2017 U.S. Open runner-up Kevin Anderson or Denis Shapovalov.

Thiem won a five-set match that lasted 3:34 against another American, Steve Johnson, in the previous round.

Serena greets her sister Venus after the third round match Photo: AP