It is the first time since Wimbledon 2010 that both Williams sisters will be in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam after her younger sibling, Serena, doused Garbine Muguruza’s flame earlier on Monday. Venus last reached the last eight of a Major at Flushing Meadows in 2010, when she actually reached the semi-finals (falling to eventual champion Kim Klijster).
The 34-year-old, in her own words “still has a few tricks” up her sleeves. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was at her aggressive best sight from the onset, needing just 51 minutes to take the first set.
In a match typical for its shift in momentum, it was Radwanska’s in the second set as the Pole reeled off five consecutive games to go 5-1 up before clinching it 6-2 with just four unforced errors to her disadvantage.
The World No. 6 broke in the first game of the decider but was soon up against a vintage Venus, who reeled off six games in a row to claim her quarter-finals spot.
“The first set wasn’t easy- it was 6-3, but it was about a hour,” Williams said after the win. “In the second set she started playing even better. I think I was a little bit impatient out there.
“The third set I just went into a little bit of a trance- I just wanted to win so badly.”
The former world number one now sets up an all-American last eight tie with Madison Keys.
No. 35-ranked Keys topped Monday’s battle of the Madisons 6-2 6-4 against her lower ranked compatriot Madison Brengle, firing six aces and 38 winners in a match that lasted exactly an hour to reach her first Majors quarter-finals.
Keys has lost once against Venus but having already ousted Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in Saturday’s third-round victory, the 19-year-old will be looking to build on her newfound momentum.
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