Serena rises, Barty into US Open last 16

Serena Williams has easily bested sister Venus in the third round of the US Open, while Australia's Ashleigh Barty is bound for her first grand slam final 16.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams shook off an early ankle injury to beat sister Venus 6-1 6-2 at Flushing Meadows. (AAP)

Serena Williams has easily accounted for sister Venus, Australia's Ashleigh Barty has stormed into the last 16 and Sloane Stephens has kept alive her bid for back-to-back Flushing Meadows titles in the third round of the US Open.

Serena equalled her most-lopsided career victory in 30 career meetings with Venus, beating her 6-1 6-2 on Friday.

The 36-year-old shook off an early ankle injury to win seven straight games and seize control in perhaps her most dominant performance since giving birth to her daughter a year ago.

Venus was unable to do anything to blunt Serena's power, even after the crowd tried desperately to get behind her early in the second set.

"It's not easy," Serena said after her 18th career victory over Venus, which lasted just one hour and 12 minutes.

"She's my best friend. She means the world to me. Every time she loses, I feel like I do. It's not very easy but it's a tournament. We know there's more to life than just playing each other and playing tennis."

They hadn't played this early in a grand slam since Venus won in the second round of the 1998 Australian Open in their first meeting as professionals.

Serena won by the same score in a semi-final victory in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2013.

Serena next faces Kaia Kanepi, who defeated Rebecca Peterson 6-3 7-6(3).

Barty ended the run of giant-killing Czech qualifier Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-4 to set up a showdown with eighth-seeded 2016 finalist Karolina Pliskova.

Riding her booming serve, Barty charged to a 3-0 lead in the opening set.

After a brief revival by the Czech, Barty claimed a second break then the first set in 33 minutes.

She raced to a 4-0 lead in the second before clinching victory on her fourth match point after one hour and 25 minutes.

Earlier on Friday, defending champion Stephens defeated former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka 6-3 6-4 in a gritty match to set up a fourth-round showdown with Elise Mertens, who beat Barbora Strycova 6-3 7-6(4).

Seventh seed Elina Svitolina beat Qiang Wang 6-4 6-4 and Anastasija Sevastova beat Ekaterina Makarova 4-6 6-1 6-2.

Pliskova beat teenage prodigy Sofia Kenin 6-4 7-6(2) in the evening's final women's singles match.


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Source: AAP


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