Serena defeats Venus in three sets to advance to Semifinals

NEW YORK Big sister didn’t go down softly. Her serve registered just as big, her forehands often as dangerous. However, little sister is the one laying claim to being the best women’s player in the history of their sport. The little bit extra Serena Williams had was apparent at the end of three sets Tuesday night in their U.S. Open quarterfinal.

She sent an ace past her sister, then walked to the net for a hug.

“When I’m playing her, I don’t think of her as my sister we trained all our lives to be on this court,” Serena Williams said. It was Venus Williams who showed the big smile when the two embraced at the net.

The obstacle Serena always calls her greatest one is now behind her after a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 win. The top seed moves on to the semifinals, continuing her quest to become the first winner of the Grand Slam, men or women, since 1988.

What is it like to play Serena Williams? Her sister has done it more than any player.

“She, of course, has a wonderful mental game,” Venus said. “She also has the ability to come up with a great shot when she needs it. That’s a hallmark of her game.”

This was “more unique,” Venus said, given the high stakes for her sister, and having to go through herself to get there. Venus said she thought she played “pretty well,” served well, said she tried to play aggressively. “Losing isn’t fun,” she said.

From the start, it was an interesting vibe inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. As soon as Venus came out on the court followed by her sister, the fans made it clear they were rooting for both.

A voice boomed out from the upper deck: “Come on, Serena!”

Then that same voice: “Come on Venus.”

That didn’t change after they split the first two sets.

A woman yelled: “Go, Williams sisters!”

“Yeah, right,’ someone in front of them said of that sentiment. “Stressful. Oh, God.”

Anyone who thinks there was anything predetermined about any of this just wasn’t watching. Both sisters came out flying and Serena eventually established control of the first set, her play up a clear level from the tournament’s first week. On one point, Venus hit a huge forehand. Past Serena? She dug it out and sent a backhand winner down the line.

Serena Williams always talked about how she didn’t know where she would have gotten her drive if not for her sister, 15 months older. She used the word “enraging” about the suggestion that matches between the sisters early in their careers were predetermined. It doesn’t get any easier playing Venus, she had said.

“She’s the toughest player I’ve ever played in my life and the best person I know,” Serena said after this one. “It’s going against your best friend.”

Serena Williams won her 34th straight match in Grand Slam tournaments. Her dominance this year is so complete that for the first time in WTA history, the No. 1 player has more than twice as many ranking points as the No. 2.

Venus was hitting milestones of her own. The oldest player in the women’s draw was making her deepest Open run since 2010, when she advanced to the semifinals. At 35, she was the oldest Open quarterfinalist since Billie Jean King in 1979, the oldest in any Slam since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1994.

In the second set, Venus got a quick break and all of a sudden Serena was making mistakes, double-faulting at break point to fall behind, 3-1, never getting another game.

Watching it all, the sold-out stadium seemed like its own little reality show. The crowd included the current Republican front-runner for president, plus Oprah. Plus Kim Kardashian. And Kendall Jenner. And a Jonas brother. And more celebrities kept showing up on the big screen at every break. (The crowd’s biggest roar? Aziz Ansari! Hey, he’s funny). Sitting above one end line, Donald Trump kept his blue blazer on. He’s been a regular here for decades, and seemed to know half the place.

For the sisters, this was their 27th meeting, including 14th at Grand Slams. Serena’s advantage now: 16-11 overall, 5-5 Grand Slams, and 7-4 in matches that have gone three sets.

Venus put more first serves in play, even averaged a couple of miles per higher on her first serves (although nine m.p.h. slower on second serves). Yet Serena won more points on first serves. Venus more on second serves.

When it was over, “I just said, ‘I’m so happy for you,’ ” Venus Williams said.

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