Venus, Serena romp into Australian Open quarter-finals

Venus Williams overcame sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska at the Australian Open to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2010.

The 34-year-old American, who suffered from Sjogren’s syndrome, a disease that can cause fatigue, won 6-3 2-6 6-1.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion will face teenager and fellow American Madison Keys in the last eight.

Venus will play sister, Serena, who beat Garbine Muguruza 2-6 6-3 6-2, in the semi-finals, if they both win again.

Top seed Serena, who had not advanced past the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park since winning her last Australian Open title in 2010, had trouble breathing at times and coughed throughout her match against Muguruza.

She also struggled for form early on, but fought back to avenge her defeat by the Spaniard at last year’s French Open.

“I had to play the best match of the tournament or else I was going to be out,” said Serena, who next faces Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova.

“She was just hitting winners like left and right. Every shot I hit, she basically hit a winner on. So I had to change my approach.”

At 19 years of Madison Keys is 15 years younger than Venus, who won her first Grand Slam title, at Wimbledon in 2000, when Keys was just five.

“Apparently she started playing because she watched Serena and I,” said Venus. “She was watching me in diapers.”

Venus was pushed hard, too, losing the second set as her level dropped before regrouping and upping the power to clinch the decider.

Asked what had inspired her successful run in Melbourne, Venus said: “Definitely my sister Serena, she’s just the ultimate champion.

“And definitely a lot of inspiration from all my fans who have stayed behind me through thick and thin.”

Venus, whose best performance at the Australian Open was a runner-up finish in 2003, last reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam at the US Open in 2010. Keys is relishing the prospect of facing one of her childhood heroes.

“I’m just really excited. It’s a huge opportunity for me,” she said.

“I think Venus has helped the sport, especially the women’s side with equal prize money. She was a huge part of that. Just watching her is inspirational.”

“She’s had her health battles but she loves tennis. She’s still out there and she’s doing it remarkably well. I hope I can be someone similar to that.”