NEW YORK -- Serena Williams kept booming big shots for winners, never allowing herself to feel sorry for the overmatched player on the other side. So what if it happened to be her big sister? The Williams sisters, long ago in careers that have spanned 20 years and 30 meetings as professionals, learned they had to view each other only as opponents - and in Serena's eyes, Venus is the best one she's ever played. "Even though it's difficult, especially for me," Serena said, "we just do the best that we can." On Friday, it was perhaps the best she's ever done against Venus. Serena equaled her most-lopsided victory against her sister with a 6-1, 6-2 rout in the third round of the U.S. Open. Serena shook off an early ankle injury to win seven straight games and seize control in perhaps her most dominant performance since giving birth to her daughter a year ago Saturday. The sisters' earliest meeting in a Grand Slam tournament in 20 years was over early, with Venus unable to do anything to blunt Serena's power, even after the fans that were part of Friday's single-day record crowd of 70,162 tried desperately to get behind her with pleas of "Come on, Venus!" early in the second set. "I think it's by far the best match I ever played against her in forever," Serena said of the match that lasted just 1 hour, 12 minutes. "But I don't know about ever, ever. It probably was. I played much better tonight than I have since I started this journey on my way back." "It's not easy," Serena said, despite how easy it looked in a match that lasted just 1 hour, 12 minutes. They hadn't played this early in a Grand Slam since Venus won in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open in their first meeting as pros, and only once over the next two decades had either won so decisively. Serena won by the same score in a semifinal victory in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2013. "I think it's the best match she's ever played against me," Venus said. "I don't think I did a lot wrong. But she just did everything right." Serena, the No. 17 seed, will face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who knocked out top-ranked Simona Halep in the first round. Serena, who turns 37 next month, leads the series 18-12 with her sister, 11-5 in Grand Slam tournaments. But this one wasn't expected to be so easy, not with Serena still working her way back into form after returning to the tour in the spring. But this was the type of tennis that has brought her to 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the ability to pound balls all over the court and chase down the rare shots that looked like they might get past her. "Obviously that level is definitely where she's going to want to stay during this whole tournament," Venus said. Serena pounded 10 aces to just one for Venus, the No. 16 seed who was perhaps a little drained after two tough matches to begin the tournament, including a three-setter against 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in her opener. Serena had an easier time in the first two rounds, though that was expected to change Friday under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium. They had combined for eight titles in Flushing Meadows, six by Serena, and each had beaten the other in a U.S. Open final. But there was no beating Serena on this night, and the discouraged look on Venus' face across much of the match indicated she seemed to realize it. "I mean, she played so well, I never got to really even touch any balls," said Venus, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open last year. "When your opponent plays like that, it's not really anything to be upset about." It looked as if Serena could have trouble when, in the second game of the match, her right ankle turned awkwardly when Venus hit behind her on a shot. Serena stood near the baseline with her back to the court for quite a few seconds, then motioned to the chair umpire that she wanted to the see the trainer at the next changeover. Serena had the ankle treated with a 2-1 lead, then broke in the next game, helped when Venus missed an easy swinging volley wide. She would break again for a 5-1 lead, then pound two aces in the next service game to wrap up the first set in 31 minutes.<doc-sep>Serena (right) registered her ninth victory over Venus in their last 11 meetings Serena Williams raced to a 6-2 6-1 victory over sister Venus to progress to the fourth round of the US Open. There will be further tests to come that will show whether Serena is totally back to her best, but there was little to fault as she won in just 71 minutes, equalling the most one-sided match in their long history. The sisters shared an embrace at the net before a muted wave to the crowd from Serena, who will next face Estonia's Kaia Kanepi. "It's not easy," said the 36-year-old. "She's my best friend, she means the world to me and she's so supportive of my career and I'm extremely supportive of her career. "Every time she loses I feel like I lose. I love her with all my heart and she's the only reason I'm still out here. I owe everything to her." Serena took a medical time-out after rolling her ankle Serena rated it her best performance since returning to the tour in March but Venus went a step further, declaring this Serena's best ever display against her. "I don't think I did a lot wrong," said the 38-year-old, who has had a disappointing 2018. "But she just did everything right. "Obviously that level is definitely where she's going to want to stay during this whole tournament." The score matched Serena's victory in Charleston five years ago while the loser had always won at least six games in their 15 previous Grand Slam meetings. Serena now leads the overall head-to-head 18-12 and has won nine of their last 11 clashes. This was their earliest meeting at a major championship since the first one 20 years ago. Serena will face Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in the fourth round It is decade since Venus last beat Serena at a Grand Slam, in the final of Wimbledon, but she had won their last match at Indian Wells in March during Serena's first tournament following the birth of Olympia. This showed how much she has improved since then as she ruthlessly powered her way to victory. The only real moment of alarm for Serena came in the second game when she rolled her right ankle. She took a medical time-out at the change of ends to have further strapping applied to the joint, which was already heavily taped, but insisted afterwards it was not a problem. It certainly did not affect her tennis, with Serena reeling off seven games in a row. The crowd urged Venus to make a match of it, and she dug in the best she could but she was helpless in the face of her sister's onslaught, with Serena hitting 10 aces in a tally of 34 winners. The loudest cheer of the night, meanwhile, came when equal rights campaigners Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid, who are both suing the NFL, were shown among the crowd on the big screen. "I think every athlete, every human, and definitely every African-American should be completely grateful and honoured how Colin and Eric are doing so much for the greater good," said Serena. "They use their platform in ways that is really unfathomable." This latest meeting has been another chance to revel in the remarkable story of the sisters - for everyone but the two women themselves. "We don't sit around and reflect," said Venus. "That's not how you get out here and win these matches. "You work hard, look forward. As soon as you beat one person, there's another one standing in front of you. "Perhaps when it's all said and done there will be a time to reflect. We're in too deep right now." We have every major tennis event covered from all angles via our website skysports.com/tennis. On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Laver Cup in September while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports. But first, we will be across the final major of the year in New York as the US Open right through to the final with live blogs, reports, features and reaction.<doc-sep>The rest of the field in the women’s singles at the US Open has been warned. Serena Williams believes that she played the best tennis of her comeback yet in her 6-1, 6-2 victory over her sister Venus here on Friday night. “This was my best match since I returned,” Serena said after playing her 20th match since beginning her comeback less than six months ago following the birth of her daughter. “I worked for it. I worked really hard these last three or four months. That’s life. You have to keep working hard, no matter what ups or downs you have. That's what I've been doing.” The gulf between the quality of the two sisters’ games was huge. Serena simply had too much power and too much quality for her sister, who has now lost their last six meetings in Grand Slam tournaments. Williams produced the best tennis of her comeback (Getty Images) “I think it’s the best match she’s ever played against me,” Venus said afterwards. “I don't think I did a lot wrong. But she just did everything right. Obviously that level is definitely where she's going to want to stay during this whole tournament.” She added: “I never got to really even touch any balls. When your opponent plays like that, it's not really anything to be upset about. She just played much better than me. “The only thing I maybe could have done was put more first serves in, though she even returned my first serves really well. Any shot that I hit great, she hit a greater shot. Not a lot I can do.” Venus was no match for her sister (EPA) Serena, who at 36 is two years younger than her sister, needed just 72 minutes to match her most emphatic victory over Venus in their previous 29 meetings. The only other occasion when she conceded just three games against her sister was on clay at Charleston five years ago. The atmosphere in Arthur Ashe Stadium was curiously subdued – especially in comparison with the excitement generated by Rafael Nadal’s victory over Karen Khachanov in the previous match – but that probably had much to do with the one-sided nature of the evening. The sisters' earliest meeting in a Grand Slam tournament in 20 years was never a contest, despite Serena suffering an ankle injury in the first set for which she required treatment. Winning seven games in a row to take the opening set and put down a marker in the second, Serena was on song from the start. Serena will play Estonian Kaia Kanepi next (Getty Images) Serena hit 10 aces to one by Venus and 34 winners to her sister’s 14. Venus had only one break point all match, which she did not take. The fact that the match was decided on Serena’s racket was demonstrated in the final game as she served out for a victory that earned a fourth-round meeting with the Estonian Kaia Kanepi. The last five points consisted of two aces, two double faults and a forehand winner which sealed the victory. “It's not easy,” Serena said afterwards. “She’s my best friend. She means the world to me. Every time she loses, I feel like I do. It's not very easy, but it's a tournament. We know there's more to life than just playing each other and playing tennis."<doc-sep>"She's so supportive of my career and I'm extremely supportive of her career and every time she loses I feel like I do," Serena Williams said The sister show down is complete! Serena Williams beat her big sister, Venus Williams, 6-1, 6-2 in their highly-anticipated matchup on Friday at the U.S. Open in Queens — their 30th head-to-head match since they first competed against each other 20 years ago. Get push notifications with news, features and more. The sisters — Serena seeded 17th and Venus 16th — played each other in the third round of the Grand Slam tournament. Serena, 36, beat out Venus, 38, with 2-0 in sets and will now move on to the round of 16. “It’s not easy,” Serena said of beating her big sister Venus in an interview after the match. “She’s my best friend, she means the world to me. She’s so supportive of my career and I’m extremely supportive of her career and every time she loses I feel like I do. So yeah, it’s not very easy, but it’s a tournament and we all know that there’s more to life than just playing each other and playing tennis.” 083118_tennis_usopen_10126.jpg Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty After rolling her ankle in the second game of the first set, Serena called for a medical timeout and had a trainer wrap her ankle after game three. “I actually roll my ankles a lot, so I just was wanting to get it taped as tight as I could for the rest of the match and see how I feel tomorrow,” she told the interviewer after her win. The younger of the two Williams sisters proved to be unstoppable after winning the first point back post-ankle taping. In the first set, Serena held her serve the whole way through, and broke Venus’ in two games. With four aces and an unbreakable serve, she beat her sister 6-1, with the last game being a blowout. In set number two, Serena continued her winning streak by hitting powerful returns of serve. Venus managed to get two games on her younger sister, but it wasn’t enough to come out on top. Serena won the second set 6-2. Discussing her post-baby comeback, Serena told the interviewer after the match, “Obviously I played much better today than actually I have since I came back to playing tennis. Absolutely this was my best match since I’ve returned, but I’ve worked for it. You know, I’ve worked really, really hard this past three months, four months, especially the past eight weeks and hopefully everything will keep paying off. That’s just life, you gotta keep going no matter how many downs you have, or how many ups you have you have to keep working hard, and that’s what I’ve tried to do.” The sisters embraced after the match and Venus gave a wave to the crowd as she walked off the court. 083118_tennis_usopen_10137.jpg Serena Williams and Venus Williams | Credit: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty “I love her with all my heart. She’s the reason I’m here,” Serena said of her sister after she left the stadium. “She’s the only reason I’m still out here, so I really owe everything to her, to Jehovah of course, but after God, I definitely owe everything to her.” Serena’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, cheered on both sisters while he sat in the stands eagerly watching the match. Another sweet spectator was also in the stands: Serena’s dog, Chip! “Serena’s dog Chip out here living his best life sitting in Serena’s player’s box watching his mom and Aunt Venus play,” a Twitter user captioned a photo of Chip sitting behind Ohanian. Speaking of family members, Serena also talked about her dad in the post-match interview. “I hope my dad didn’t watch! It’s his two daughters playing each other, it’s not very easy. I’ll talk to him obviously, tomorrow, and then he’ll be watching again after this match is over. I know he probably is just feeling as nervous as we both were,” she said before sending him a loving message: “Hi dad, I miss you, I love you.” As she walked off the court, she addressed the crowd one last time: “We’re both winners, thank you guys for the support, I love you so much. Thank you!” On Monday, Serena defeated Magda Linette and bested German player Carina Witthöft the next day. As for Venus, she was victorious over Svetlana Kuznetsova in her first-round match and beat Camila Giorgi on Wednesday. Friday’s match marked the 16th time the sisters have played each other at Grand Slams. They first competed against each other professionally in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open. The last time they faced each other in a Grand Slam tournament, Serena was pregnant with her daughter Alexis Olympia (who turns 1 on Saturday). “The last time we played the Australian it was two against one,” Venus said ahead of Friday’s match, according to USA Today. “At least this time it’s going to [be] fair.” Days before the latest Grand Slam match, Serena acknowledged that the game would be a “tough” one for her, according to The New York Times. “Unfortunately and fortunately we have to play each other,” Serena continued. “We make each other better. We bring out the best when we play each other. It’s what we do. So, I think we’re used to it now.” RELATED VIDEO: Serena and Venus Will Face Off at the U.S. Open This Week — What to Know Venus and Serena, two of the best to ever play the game, have long shared a love of the game.<doc-sep>
Sandra Harwitt Special to USA TODAY NEW YORK — As great as Venus and Serena Williams are at tennis, it's just a fact that Serena is the better sister. The 30th installment of their career rivalry was meant to dazzle fans Friday night at the US Open. But it turned out again to be all about Serena, as she won handily even though she needed to have her ankle taped during the first set. The quick 6-1, 6-2 victory increased Serena’s domination of her big sister to 18-12 since they first played 20 years ago. “It’s not easy, she’s my best friend and she means the world to me,” Serena 36, told the crowd after Venus, 38, left the court after the 72-minute match. “She’s supportive of me, and I’m supportive of her. Every time she loses I feel I lose, too. But we all know that there’s a whole lot more to life than tennis. “I love her with all my heart and she’s the reason I’m here, and Jehovah,” Serena added. “After God, I owe everything to her.” Serena carries the mental edge over Venus, which happened as their encounters continued to favor Serena. As talented as Venus is - she has won seven Grand Slam titles - Serena is a fraction better at every aspect of the game. Serena, who leads Venus 11-5 in Grand Slam matches, has won nine of their last 11 meetings, dating to a 2009 semifinal at the Miami tournament. "I think it's the best match she's ever played against me," Venus said. "I don't think I did a lot wrong. But she just did everything right. Obviously that level is definitely where she's going to want to stay during this whole tournament. "She played so well, I never got to really even touch any balls. When your opponent plays like that, it's not really anything to be upset about. The only thing I, maybe, could have done was put more first serves in. Any shot that I hit great, she hit a greater shot. Not a lot I can do." Serena’s third-round victory shows how far she has come since she returned from maternity leave at Indian Wells in March. Williams stepped away from the tour after she won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January 2017 while pregnant. Her daughter, Alexis Olympia, was born a year ago Saturday. Venus did win the sister's last encounter in the third round at Indian Wells, but Serena was dealing with a long layoff at the time. The sisters' history shows that whoever wins the first set tends to win the match and that happened again Friday night for the 26th time in 30 meetings. Serena was in control of the match from the outset with her only wobble coming when she turned over her ankle while going up 30-40 on Venus’ serve in the second game of the match. Serena saved the one break point she faced in the match and capably broke Venus on four of 10 opportunities presented. While Venus leaves Friday night knowing she won’t win a third US Open trophy this year, Serena is still on course for history. Serena is tied with Chris Evert for the most US Open titles at six. If she can pick up a seventh this year, she'll tie Margaret Court for most Grand Slam singles titles at 24. Serena will next face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia in the fourth round Sunday.