AUSTRALIAN OPEN Venus joins Serena in quarter-finals first time since 2010 Venus Williams overcame sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska at the Australian Open to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2010. The 34-year-old American, who suffers from Sjogrens syndrome, a disease that can cause fatigue, won 6-3 2-6 6-1. The seven-time Grand Slam champion will face teenager and fellow American Madison Keys in the last eight. Venus will face younger sister Serena in the semi-finals if they both win their last-eight matches. Serena Williams was in the crowd to watch sister Venus in action Top seed Serena dug deep for a 2-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Garbine Muguruza and faces Slovakias Dominika Cibulkova for a place in the last four. Serena, who has not advanced past the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park since winning her last Australian Open title in 2010, had trouble breathing at times and coughed throughout her match against Muguruza. She also struggled for form early on, but fought back to avenge her defeat to the Spaniard at last years French Open. I had to play the best match of the tournament or else I was going to be out, said Serena. She was just hitting winners like left and right. Every shot I hit, she basically hit a winner on. So I had to change my approach. Experience versus youthVenus will play Keys, 15 years her junior, in the last eight. When Williams won her first Grand Slam title, at Wimbledon in 2000, Keys was just five.Apparently she started playing because she watched Serena and I, said Venus. She was watching me in diapers. Venus was pushed hard, too, losing the second set as her level dropped before regrouping and upping the power to clinch the decider. Asked what had inspired her successful run in Melbourne, Venus said: Definitely my sister Serena, shes just the ultimate champion. And definitely a lot of inspiration from all my fans who have stayed behind me through thick and thin. Venus, whose best performance at the Australian Open is a runner-up finish in 2003, last reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam at the US Open in 2010. Her opponent Keys, 19, is relishing the prospect of facing one of her childhood heroes. Keys saw off another American, Madison Brengle, to reach the last eight Im just really excited. Its a huge opportunity for me, she said. I think Venus has helped the sport, especially the womens side with equal prize money. She was a huge part of that. Just watching her is inspirational. Shes had her health battles but she loves tennis. Shes still out there and shes doing it remarkably well. I hope I can be someone similar to that. Venus v SerenaShould Venus beat Keys, she will progress to her 20th Grand Slam singles semi-final, with sister Serena a potential opponent.The sisters last met at a Grand Slam in 2009, with Serena triumphing in the Wimbledon final in straight sets.Serena leads the head-to-head 14-11, but Venus won their most recent encounter, which took place in Montreal last year. It was the first time Venus Williams has beaten Agnieszka Radwanska since Miami in 2010, ending a run of three successive defeats
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:17:45 +0000
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