Venus Williams has notched yet another career milestone, charging into her ninth Australian Open quarter-final at Melbourne Park.
The 36-year-old former world No.1 resisted a stern challenge from Mona Barthel to defeat the German qualifier 6-3 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
The American 13th seed next plays Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after the Russian upset eighth-seeded countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-3 in her fourth-round match.
The ageless champion has stormed into the last eight without dropping a set and looms as a potentially dangerous semi-final threat to world No.1 and defending champion Angelique Kerber.
"This is what you do all the hard work in the off-season for. It's wonderful to be in an opportunity to advance even further. I love it. It's such a blessing," said Williams, without offering a hint of any plans to slow down.
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"I think I was born to play this game, I really do. I've been blessed enough to do something I love and I think this was my calling because I grew so big and so tall and I can cover the court and hit it hard. I was meant to do this."
