Serena, Venus on course for sibling showdown

NEW YORK (AFP) - American sisters Serena and Venus Williams continued their march toward a quarter-final showdown at the US Open by winning third round matches by identical 6-2, 6-1 scores.

Serena cruised to victory over Japan's Ai Sugiyama in 66 minutes while Venus needed even less time, dispatching world No. 31 Alona Bondarenko in just 56 minutes on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium court.

The sisters, who have 14 Grand Slam titles between them, have won all their matches in straight sets in Flushing Meadows and would meet in a quarter-final if both win again Monday.

Serena, who is seeded fourth, said she would have liked to be in a different section of the women's draw so she didn't have to play her seventh seeded Venus in the round of eight.

"Obviously I'm disappointed," Serena said. "But I have had a week to think about it.