(BBC) Defending champion Kim Clijsters demolished Ana Ivanovic 6-2 6-1 yesterday to ease into the US Open quarter-finals.
The pair struggled with their serve until the Belgian broke twice to lead 5-2 and it proved to be the turning point as the Serb, 22, capitulated.
After taking the first set, the second seed raced to a 4-0 lead and soon wrapped up the victory in 59 minutes.
Venus Williams was given a scare in the first set by Israeli Shahar Peer before the fourth seed won 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
The American also struggled with her serve in the first half of her match against the 16th seed and faced six break points before taking the opening set in a 22-point 12th game.
Two-time champion Venus had an easier time in the second set and admitted afterwards she was still finding her way after missing most of August with an injured left kneecap.
“It was a little tricky – it was important for to stay positive,” said the 30-year-old third seed. On her fitness, she added “I’m OK. It helps me not playing the doubles. I’m happy to be here and playing well.”
Venus will next play French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who comfortably saw off 20th seed 19-year-old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova with a 6-3 6-0 win.
The sixth-seeded Italian continued her fine run with a strong performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium to overcome the Russian, who was playing in the fourth round at a Grand Slam for the first time.
Pavlyuchenkova required medical attention on her right arm and racked up four double-faults and 29 unforced errors as Schiavone made the last eight at Flushing Meadows for the first time in seven years.
With blustery conditions returning to Flushing Meadows on Sunday, Clijsters produced a display showing all the signs of a player determined to keep hold of the crown she won in 2005 and 2009.
The Belgian and Ivanovic suffered early breaks of serve, but it was the defending champion who slowly seized control with a dominant combination of aggression and tireless defence.
It took the Clijsters, who only recently returned to the sport after retiring in 2007, half an hour to wrap up the opening set with a crushing backhand to leave Ivanovic stranded and increasingly frustrated.
Although Ivanovic, currently ranked 40, showed brief glimpses of the talent that took her to number one status two years ago, there was no stopping the 27-year-old as she powered to a 4-0 lead before concluding another victory without dropping a set.
After taking her match-winning run at the US Open to 18 and setting up a clash with fifth seed Sam Stosur or Elena Dementieva, she said: “I played well and I’m happy to get through in two sets.
“It’s all about staying with her. She’s a player who likes to grow in confidence and then she takes more risks when she’s ahead.
“Once she started to make errors I tried to really get in and be aggressive and play my game. I’m happy with the way I’m improving.”
