Serena, Venus win at U.S. Open

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Two-time champions Serena Williams and Venus Williams were third-round winners Saturday at the U.S. Open tennis.

The fourth-seeded Serena Williams defeated Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama 6-2, 6-1 in 66 minutes. An eight-time major champion, Serena Williams won the Open title in 1999 and 2002.

She could meet her sister, Venus Williams, in the quarterfinals next week. The two are the only former U.S. Open champions remaining in the women's draw. The 26-year-old Serena lost to Venus in the Wimbledon final last month.

Venus Williams beat Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko 6-2, 6-1 in 56 minutes Saturday.

Venus Williams, 28, was the back-to-back U.S. Open champ in 2000 and 2001 and runner-up in 1997 and 2002. She's a seven-time major titlist, including five Wimbledon championships.