Serena, Venus to meet in US Open quarters, Bouchard out

New York: Serena and Venus Williams advanced to a dramatic US Open quarter-final showdown with straight-set triumphs Sunday while Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard withdrew from her fourth-round match due to a concussion.

World number one Serena Williams served well in moving within three match victories of a rare calendar Grand Slam with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over US 19th seed Madison Keys.

Serena made only six unforced errors to 19 for Keys and hit 58 percent of her first serves. She took 79 percent of those points and 70 percent on her second serves, nearly twice Keys’ second-try effectiveness.

“I’m so proud. I’m so glad it’s so much better,” Serena said of her serve.

“My only chance was to start out fast. I just stayed in there and was able to relax.”

Venus, seeded 23rd, downed 152nd-ranked Estonian teen qualifier Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, matching her deepest Grand Slam run since reaching the 2010 US Open semi-finals.

“We’re both prepared,” Venus said. “Even though you’re playing your sister you have to be prepared and focus. The preparation doesn’t change.”