The possibility of all all-Williams semi-final at the Australian Open looms after both sisters won their fourth-round matches at the Rod Laver Arena. Defending champion Serena ended local hopeful Sam Stosur’s campaign 6-4 6-2 after sixth seed Venus recovered from a sluggish start to overcome Francesca Schiavone 3-6 6-2 6-1.
The American sisters are now just one win away from meeting each other in the last four and the chances of that happening were increased when fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki was beaten by China's Li Na6-4 6-3 today.
That left the sisters as the highest seeded players left in the draw. Should they meet it would be their first clash at Melbourne Park since Serena won the 2003 final.
Serena Williams stunned the home fans with a powerful serving display to completely outgun 13th seed Stosur.
The Australian had won her previous meeting with Serena Williams at Stanford last year, but could win just two points on her rival’s serve in the first set.
The American took it 6-4 and ran away with the match in the second set to win in just over an hour.
“I can’t believe it. Sam beat me last time convincingly,” Serena Williams said. “I think my serve was pretty good today.
“I had to come out strongly because when you are playing someone like Sam you have to play this good.
“I especially had to do that in front of this crowd or I would have been going home.”
Serena Williams will meet the seventh-seeded Belorussian Victoria Azarenkaafter she came from behind in the late game to defeat Vera Zvonareva4-6 6-4 6-0.
Sixth seed Venus Williams was optimistic she could claim her first Australian Open title after her comeback win over Schiavone.
After losing the first set the 29-year-old was down a break in the second, but turned her form around emphatically to reel off 12 of the next 14 games and seal her progress.
“She played really well in the first set. I have to give her credit, but I was able just to get some footing back in and start to execute the way I wanted to,” Venus Williams said.
“I realised I was rushing a little too much and I just really needed to take my time. That worked.
“I’m ready to go and I feel very well. I’m hitting the ball pretty good, especially against her today.” Venus Williams faces a tricky last-eight match with 16th seed Li Na.
The Chinese right-hander beat Venus William when they met at the Beijing Olympics, although Li admits that will have little impact on their forthcoming match.
“I don’t really remember the match because it was one and a half years ago,” she admitted. “It was a good experience for me, and for my tennis also.
“But I want to forget about it now because I will play her in a new game. I want to look forward.”