Three-time champion Serena Williams stormed to a double bagel 6-0, 6-0 rout of Czech Andrea Hlavackova to reach her 10th US Open quarter-final in a ruthless display of her title credentials.
The 30-year-old American allowed the world number 82 just eight points on her serve and finished the last-16 clash with 31 winners against just seven unforced errors, backing up her 57-minute win with eight aces.
Williams, a 14-time Grand Slam title winner, and the reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion, has dropped just 12 games in four matches at the Open this year.
She hasn’t lost a game in her last three sets played while yesterday’s mauling was the fifth time in her career she had handed out a double bagel.
Williams will face Ana Ivanovic tomorrow for a place in the semi-finals after the Serb 12th seed defeated Bulgaria’s Tsvetana Pironkova 6-0, 6-4.
The other quarter-final will feature Italian compatriots, best friends and doubles partners Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci battling for a semi-final spot.
Errani, the 10th seed, defeated last year’s semi-finalist, German sixth seed Angelique Kerber 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, while Vinci saw off Polish second seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-4.
It will be the first time two Italian women have made the last eight at the same Grand Slam.
The first quarter-finals will see top seed Victoria Azarenka facing defending champion Samantha Stosur while 2006 winner Maria Sharapova takes on France’s Marion Bartoli.
“Andrea played really well,” Williams insisted of her outclassed opponent, who departed the singles tournament $120,000 richer for making the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
“She never gave up. She’s such a great fighter. But I played really well today, I tried to stay relaxed and do what I do.”