By Marc Raimondi
There will be no upset of a former US Open champion for Agnieszka Radwanska this year. The Polish teen, who shocked Flushing Meadows last year with her ouster of defending champ Maria Sharapova in the third round last year, fell to Venus Williams, 6-1, 6-3, on Monday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
That result and Serena Williams' win against Severine Bremond will set up an all-Williams quarterfinal. Venus is seeded No. 7 and Serena is No. 4 in the draw.
Venus Williams downplayed the sisterly final as nothing more than another match.
“It's tough to play her, because she's so good,” Venus said. “That's hard … If I had a sister and she wasn't very good, it wouldn't be a big deal. I would just beat her.”
Both Williams sisters seem to be rounding into form this year after a few years of spotty play when people questioned their commitment to the game. Venus beat Serena in the Wimbledon final.
For years, the Williams sisters have been long on power and a bit short on guile and cunning. But Venus showed a bit of that against Radwanska.
“Nowadays I throw in a slice, some loopers,” she said. “I don't know what's gotten into me, but it's nice.”
It is a bit of an oddity that the pair is meeting so early, but that's the way the draw – and their rankings – fell.
“Hopefully it'll get to the point where we meet later in the draw,” Venus said. “That's the way it is.”
