Sugar-free Venus rolls on to 3rd round

Venus Williams played as sweetly as ever — even if she has given up sugar.

This is the 20th U.S. Open since her first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium and 18th appearance at age 36.

“I guess 36 is the new 26,’’ Williams said.

As the sixth seed, Williams rolled into the third round Thursday with a 6-2, 6-3 dismantling of Julia Georges of Germany under the closed roof of the stadium, keeping alive the possibility of another All-Williams semifinal.

Sjrogren’s disease — an energy-sapping illness she was diagnosed with five years ago, figured to prematurely end her career. But she still is going strong all these years after her 1997 Open debut when she rolled to the finals.

“[That] was a long time ago,’’ Williams said. “I’m so grateful to still be playing, still winning matches.”

Nick Kyrgios’ 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over Argentine Horacio Zeballos sent him into the third round, with Stan Wawrinka’s victory over Italian Alessandro Gian

nessi leaving them each a step away from a potential fourth-round grudge match.

Kyrgios had engaged in next-level trash talk in an earlier meeting when he suggested that his fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis had slept with Wawrinka and added a mocking “sorry about that, mate.”

The roof’s first day-card presence didn’t deliver any competitive play as the three matches went swiftly and in straight sets.

Before Williams’ romp, fifth-seeded Simona Halep routed Luciana Safarova of Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4in 88 minutes. Then second seed Andy Murray the Wimbledon champion and Olympic gold medalist, bounced Spanish journeyman Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in 2:22 to move into the third round.