US Open: Serena powers into third round

CRUISE CONTROL: Serena put on a powerful display against 71st ranked Vesnina.

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New York: Fourth seed Serena Williams swept into the third round of the US Open on Thursday, wiping out Russian Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-1 to stay on track for a quarter final showdown with her sister Venus.

Both sisters had an easy ride into the third round of the tournament that they have each won twice – Venus in 2000 and 2001, Serena in 1999 and 2002.

Serena put on a powerful display against 71st ranked Vesnina, hammering in six aces in the 58-minute match.

Vesnina rallied briefly to break Serena's serve and narrow the American's lead to 5-1 in the second set, but the former world number one broke right back to end it.

She will meet Ai Sugiyama in the third round.

For the 10th time in 10 US Open appearances, Serena reached the third round, where she will find No. 32 Ai Sugiyama, the 33-year-old Japanese veteran whom Serena has defeated all three previous times without losing a set.