U.S. Open Tennis | Williams sisters reach quarterfinals

FLUSHING, N.Y. — Serena and Venus Williams wrapped up the first week of the U.S. Open exactly as they began it: with one sister following the other into Arthur Ashe Stadium and each walking off in triumph, having overwhelmed her opponent.

Eighth-seeded Serena took center stage first on a splendid Sunday and stormed past Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France 6-3, 6-4. Bartoli, seeded 10th, had neither the pace nor the power to handle Serena's mighty serve.

"When it's coming 125 [mph] at me, I cannot even see the ball," Bartoli said.

A few hours later, 12th-seeded Venus faced a more formidable challenger, fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic.

Venus had easily beaten the hard-hitting Serbian teen en route to her fourth Wimbledon title this summer.

Sunday's meeting, their second in a Grand Slam event, promised to be more compelling. Ivanovic was brilliant through her first three rounds, never losing more than three games in a set.

But Venus made Ivanovic look nearly as sluggish as Bartoli, blasting serves past her and dictating the tempo with blistering ground strokes to win 6-4, 6-2.

The victories moved the sisters one step closer to a much-anticipated semifinal meeting Friday.

"That would be awesome," Venus said, "because it would mean that there's a Williams in the final. It would mean an American has a chance to win."

First they must get past the quarterfinal round, where Serena plays top-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium and Venus takes on No. 3 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

Henin beat Serena in the quarterfinals at the French Open and Wimbledon this year.

"I'm going in feeling like I don't have anything to lose," Serena said. "I just feel different now."

For four consecutive years, a Williams won the U.S. Open. Serena, 25, claimed the title in 1999 and 2002; Venus, 27, won in 2000 and 2001.

In men's play, second-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 7-6 (7-3), 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round. No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-1, 6-3, 6-4.