Serena progresses

Serena Williams joined her sister Venus in the round of 16 at the US Open after a crushing victory over Ai Sugiyama tonight.

The fourth-seeded American, the winner at Flushing Meadows in 1999 and 2002, was simply too powerful for the Japanese, winning 6-2 6-1 in 66 minutes.

Williams broke twice in the opening set and twice more in the second to set up a meeting with either Severine Bremond or Tathiana Garbin.

Venus was equally impressive in beating Alona Bondarenko in straight sets earlier today.