Top Seeds Serena Williams, Djokovic Make U.S. Open Quarterfinals

By Eben Novy-Williams

Photographer: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

Serena Williams of the U.S. returns a shot to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during their 2014... Read More

Top seeds Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, who have yet to drop a set at the U.S. Open, cruised into the quarterfinals today at the National Tennis Center in New York.
In hot and humid conditions, two-time defending champion Williams beat Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-3. On the court next door, Djokovic topped Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.
Williams, 32, has 17 Grand Slam singles titles, one short of tying Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova for fourth on the
career list, but has been shut out so far this year. She failed to reach the quarterfinals in any of the three previous majors this season -- the Australian and French opens, and Wimbledon.
“I finally made a quarterfinal this year!” Williams, the last remaining American in either draw, yelled in a courtside interview while throwing up her hands. She’s been the WTA Tour’s top-ranked player since last year.
Djokovic raced to an early 5-0 lead in the first set against Kohlschreiber and never looked bothered, winning all 14 of his service games. The 27-year-old now has advanced to the quarterfinals in 22 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments -- a run of 5 1-2 years.
“I love this sport, I play it with a lot of passion,” Djokovic said in a courtside interview after the match. “I’m so grateful for everything I have in life, and what this sport has given me.”
The last time Djokovic failed to reach the final eight at a Grand Slam was at the 2009 French Open, where he was beaten in the third round by Kohlschreiber.

Tsonga-Murray Match

Djokovic will face the winner of No. 9 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France against 2012 champion Andy Murray of Britain, the eighth seed this year.
Williams, who has won five U.S. Open titles, is bidding to become the first woman to win three straight championships at the year’s final Grand Slam event since Evert won four consecutively in 1975-78. The most recent player to win the same Grand Slam title three straight times was Belgium’s Justine Henin at the French Open from 2005 through 2007.
Williams next will face No. 11 seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy. Earlier today Pennetta, a semifinalist at the U.S. Open last year, beat No. 29 Casey Dellacqua of Australia 7-5, 6-2.
Djokovic, Tsonga and Murray are among six of the men’s top-10 seeds on court today on the U.S. Labor Day holiday. No. 3 Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland plays No. 16 Tommy Robredo of Spain and No. 5 Milos Raonic of Canada faces 10th-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan.