Williams Sisters to Meet in Quarters

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Sept. 1 -- Venus and Serena Williams insist they don't worry about their respective world rankings.

They know better than any computer-based formula how well they are playing, as do the sport's commentators and fans. Certainly none of their rivals look to the sisters' rankings to gauge the challenge in store as they prepare to face them on court.

Tennis rankings, after all, reward players who compete a lot -- not necessarily those who compete the best.

And given the dramatic shifts in the Williams sisters' careers in recent years -- with both playing limited schedules in stretches because of illness and injury -- neither has been treated particularly kind by the rankings.

It is a tradeoff, for the most part, that the Williams have been willing to make -- putting their health above the imperative to compete 10 months out of the year.

The approach has served them well in recent years. They have 15 major titles between them and remain threats to add to that total at an age when other women have long since retired. (Venus is 28; Serena, 26).

Top-ranked Ana Ivanovic has one major title, while second-ranked Jelena Jankovic has yet to win one of the sport's four majors.

But there are times when the Williams sisters -- and, in turn, the sport -- pay a price for those rankings that don't reflect their on-court ability. That's when they end up in the same quarter of the draw at major tournaments as a result. This year's U.S. Open is a case in point.

Through four rounds of play, neither Venus, ranked No. 8, nor Serena, ranked No. 3, has lost a set. Neither has come close. Serena has yet to lose more than three games in a set; Venus has lost as many as four games only once.

Their victories Monday underscored their dominance -- particularly with 2007 U.S. Open champion Justine Henin's retirement this spring, 2006 U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova sidelined by injury and the top-seeded Ivanovic bounced in the second round.

Venus breezed into the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over ninth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanksa of Poland, while Serena booked her passage by dismissing French wild card Séverine Brémond, 6-2, 6-2.

But there was no hiding the disappointment amid what should have been a joyous moment. That's because their next opponent will be their toughest yet: Each other.

"It [stinks]," Serena said during her on-court interview with CBS, drawing chuckles from the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium. "That's how I feel. Even the semis would have been better than the quarterfinals."

Wednesday's quarterfinal meeting comes less than two months after the sisters clashed in the final at Wimbledon.

Their head-to-head record is 8-8. Serena has eight major titles, including two U.S. Opens (1999, 2002). Venus has seven majors, including two U.S. Opens (2000, 2001).

"As we continue to climb up the rankings -- and I'm going to keep working on my ranking and keep trying to improve it -- hopefully it'll get to the point where we meet later in the draw," Venus said.

Added Serena: "I've been working on playing more and getting my ranking together. It's just disappointing to be so soon."

Also advancing Monday: Dinara Safina, a 7-5, 6-0 victor over Anna-Lena Groenefeld; Flavia Pennetta, who ousted Amélie Mauresmo, 6-3, 6-0; Juan Martín del Potro, who extended his unbeaten streak to 23 matches with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Japan's Kei Nishikori; and Andy Murray, who dismissed Stanilas Wawrinka, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.