By Chris Oddo | Monday, September 1, 2014

 

After a long, trying year, Serena Williams is finally into the last eight of a major.

Photo Source: AP

Serena Williams may be extremely happy to have reached the last eight of a major for the first time in 2014, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be satisfied with anything other than her 18th Grand Slam title in New York this week.

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On Monday, Williams inched closer to that goal, defeating Finland’s Kaia Kanepi in straight sets for the fourth time in four career matches, 6-3, 6-3.

Williams improves to 38-8 in Grand Slam round of 16 matches, and 76-9 at the US Open with the victory.

“It feels good,” said Williams, who hit 8 aces and 19 winners against 16 unforced errors for the match. “Obviously I don't want this to end. But I'm just happy that I'm able to be performing a little better at the end of the year.”

The five-time US Open champion won all 16 first serve points in the first set and didn’t face a break point.

But Williams struggled in the second set in which she only served 45 percent, She had to overcome two service breaks but was able to do so, and won the final three games to close the match in 65 minutes.

Williams is now the only top ten player left in the draw after Eugenie Bouchard’s departure on Day 8, but the world No. 1 just wants to take it one step at a time and focus on her own game. “I don't have any expectations,” she told reporters. “I just am here to focus on my match and hopefully do what I can do, and that's it.”

Williams will face Flavia Pennetta in the quarterfinals. The American has won all five previous meetings with the Italian, including a 6-2, 6-2, thumping in Cincinnati a few weeks ago.