A ruthless Serena Williams charged into the US Open quarter-finals on Monday with a 6-0 6-0 win over Czech Andrea Hlavackova after Roger Federer was gifted a spot in the last eight when Mardy Fish withdrew from the year’s final grand slam.
Showing no mercy against her 82nd ranked opponent, Williams sent an ominous warning of her intention to add the US Open title to her recent wins at Wimbledon and the London Olympics with a rare “double bagel” victory in 57 minutes.
“Andrea played really well today even though it was love and love,” Williams said in a courtside interview. “I think I played really well today. I haven’t played like that all tournament.”
Williams won the last of her three US Open titles in 2008 but, on the evidence of her performances so far, a fourth title at Flushing Meadows appears well within her reach although her toughest challenges await.
The American’s next opponent is Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, a former world No 1 who has rediscovered her best after a lean few years where she struggled with injuries.
Ivanovic advanced on Monday with an impressive 6-0 6-4 victory over Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova but said she would have to raise her game even higher to compete with Williams.
“She’s obviously a great player and she’s been playing the best out of all the girls on tour at the moment,” said Ivanovic.