US Open | The Williams are into the third round

With many matches affected by rain on Thursday, the Arthur Ashe court, with its new closeable roof played host to the Williams sister.

Venus went first and showed that at 36, she is still one of the best players around. She took just under an hour to dispatch a dangerous Julia Goerges 6-2 6-3.

Venus, who is in the same side of the draw as her sister, Serena,​ came into Flushing Meadows ranked sixth​,​
but she would be hard pressed as she seeks her first semi-final appearance in the last seven years.

After her victory, she said in her post-match interview, “I’m so grateful to be here, still playing, still winning matches, and I can’t wait for the next round”.

She will meet Laura Siegemund​ in the next round.​

Some hours after, Serena took to the court against her compatriot, Vania King, who had never beaten the world No.1.

And though there were some lapses in her game, she took all of an hour to win and set up a third round clash with Sweden’s Johanna Larsson.

That victory proved a landmark as it marked her 306th win at a Grand Slam tournament.

It took her abreast of the legendary Martina Navratilova, who boasted 306-49 during her career, which lasted all of 31 years.

“Every match I like to go out and do the best I can so hopefully I will be able to play better as the tournament goes on,” said Williams, who at a point in the second set appeared to be crying as she berated herself for a shoddy display.