An early challenge for Venus, Serena
NEW YORK — Get ready for the latest Grand Slam i nstallment of Williams vs. Williams. One big difference this time: The superstar siblings will be meeting in the third round at the U.S. Open, their earliest showdown at a major tournament in 20 years.
Serena Williams set up the highly anticipated matchup at Flushing Meadows by hitting 13 aces and overwhelming 101stranked Carina Witthoeft 6-2, 6-2 in a little more than an hour Wednesday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Hours earlier, across the way at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Venus Williams did her part with another straight-set victory, eliminating 40th-ranked Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5.
“I hope,” Venus said after her match, “we get to play.” Serena made sure of it. They will play Friday, and it is going to be their 30th tour-level encounter. It’s the soonest the sisters have played each other at any Grand Slam since their very first tour match, all the way back at the 1998 Australian Open. Venus won that one. But since then, it’s been the younger Serena who’s grown dominant.
“It’s so young in the tournament,” Serena said. “Wewould have rather met later.”
Serena leads the series 17-12, including 10-5 at majors.
The sisters have played each other in the finals of all four Slams, including at the U.S. Open in 2001 (when Venus won) and 2002 (when Serena did).
“Normally, I would say cheer for me,” Serena told spectators after her match. “But whoever you’re feeling like — me or Venus — it’ll work.”
“It’s incredible what they’ve done,” said threetime major champion Andy Murray, whose first Grand Slam event since he had hip surgery ended with a four-set loss to No. 31 Fernando Verdasco. “I’d be surprised if anything like that ever happens again.”
Meanwhile, past men’s champions Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka advanced on another day with the temperature topping 95 degrees.