Former world number one Serena Williams survived a scare, coming from a set down to beat her sister Venus to reach the quarter-finals of the Top Seed Open in Kentucky.
The 38-year-old lost the first set 3-6 but rallied through the second set to overpower her 40-year-old sister, by the same point. The match became the 31st competitive singles match between the sisters with Venus now losing 19 of their encounter.
While speaking in an interview after the match, the younger Williams said she was fortunate to have won, as she lost a lot of tight sets.
The 23 grand slam champion said for the first time in her career, she did not come to win the tour, but to strengthen herself ahead of the US Open tournament.
Serena’s chances of winning a 24th Grand Slam singles title in the US open have been boosted, following the withdrawal of several top-20 players.
She will now play Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez or fellow American Shelby Rogers in the quarter-finals of the top seed Open.