Venus Williams required 50 minutes on the court during her 6-2,6-1, dismissal of Estonian teenage qualifier Anett Kontaveit.
Playing in her 17th US Open, Williams demonstrated that age is no barrier in tennis as she dismantled the 19-year-old in front of her home crowd. Both players started the match in solid form by holding their opening service games. The start of the match was the only time that Kontaveit was on par with Williams as the 35-year-old went on to blow her away in the opening set by breaking her twice to take it.
The second set was even more one-sided with the former world number one storming to 5-0. Kontaveit prevented the bagel set by holding to love in the sixth game before bowing out of the match. The final game was however the most challenging for Williams in the entire match. Williams was forced to save a break-point before booking her place in the last eight.
The loss is a steep learning curve for Kovtaveit, who is playing in the third Grand Slam of her career. The former junior world number 4 is currently ranked 152 in the world and claimed the biggest title in her career earlier this year at an ITF $50,000 event in Eastbourne, England.
Throughout the short match Williams won 84% of her first serves and 71% of second. In addition, she also produced 15 winners and four aces.
In the last eight, Williams could play world number 1 and younger sister Serena if she wins her fourth round match. If the world number one is successful, it will be the 27th time that the sisters have played each other on the tour. Venus currently trails the head-to-head 11-15.
