Defending champion Serena Williams powered into the French Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, but Timea Bacsinszky dumped out sister Venus as the Swiss continued her love affair with Paris. Serena reached the last eight at Roland Garros for the 10th time after pulverising 18th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-1, 6-1 in just over an hour on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The world number one continues her pursuit of a record-equalling 22nd Open era Grand Slam title against 60th-ranked Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan. The 34-year-old American faces the likelihood of playing four matches in four days as she targets a fourth French Open crown, but Serena played down concerns about the schedule. "Four in a row? I think for us...when we play regular tournaments you play four, five matches in a row. It's what happens," she said. "In Rome I played four in a row? Five? I don't know. But, you know, in Miami and Indian Wells you just play every day. It's something you just get used to. It's totally fine I think for me and for everyone."
Swiss eighth seed Bacsinszky ended any prospect of Serena facing sister Venus in the semi-finals after dumping out the elder Williams in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4. Bacsinszky, who reached the semi-finals in Paris a year ago, reeled off nine of 10 games after trailing 0-2 in the first set to lay the foundation for her victory. "If I could play here every day of my life, I would do it," said Bacsinszky, who will meet unseeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens next.
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