It was another record-breaking day for world No. 1 Serena Williams Monday at the U.S. Open, but any hope for a nostalgic all-Williams rematch came to an end with sister Venus' heartbreaking three-set tiebreaker loss.
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Serena surpassed Roger Federer as the winningest player — man or woman — in Open Era history with her 308th match victory in major play after easing by Yaroslava Shvedova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
"I just think winning 308 matches in general is pretty awesome. For that to be in a Grand Slam is pretty cool," Williams told reporters. "It's a huge number. I think it's very significant actually. I think it's something that, you know, just really talks about the length of my career, in particular."
It was more cause to celebrate the 22-time Grand Slam champion, whose collision course with history is full steam ahead as she rounds into form ahead of a quarterfinal draw against No. 5 seed Simona Halep. Should Williams win her seventh U.S. Open title, she'd set the all-time record for majors in the modern women's era.
"I think it just comes from a different place of the just love and really enjoying it," Williams, 34, said of her longevity. "I definitely never thought I would be playing still. Now I don't really see when I'm going to stop because I'm just enjoying these moments out here, getting to break records that I didn't even know existed or I didn't even know was possible.
"I think when you really enjoy what you do, it's different."
The buzz that Serena might have accomplished a record 23rd major title by passing through Venus in the semifinals made it all the more intriguing.
It was for naught, though, as the two-time U.S. Open champion was ousted by No. 10 seed Karolina Pliskova in a surprise 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) loss Monday.
Venus resolute
Venus' earlier-than-expected exit was once again met with retirement whispers as the 36-year-old sees another major come and go without challenging for the title.
But the elder Williams, seeded sixth, was having none of that post match, telling reporters her focus is to "continue to play better tennis."
"At this point my goals are just to cut back on my errors," Williams said. "I feel like if I convert a few more points, a few less errors, then this kind of match is mine.
"That's a balance that you make when you play the kind of game that I play. You have to figure out the balance. I was clearly the more aggressive player all the time, but I have to put the ball in the court."
Teenager stuns Radwanska
No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska was eliminated in the fourth round by 18-year-old Croatian sensation Ana Konjuh in a straight-set upset.
Konjuh, competing in her first U.S. Open, produced a performance beyond her tender years to upstage Radwanska, 6-4, 6-4.
Looking to progress beyond the fourth round in Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career, Radwanska appeared on track for a routine win after earning a 2-0 lead at the start of the opening set but it was all downhill from there.
But Konjuh went toe-to-toe with her more experienced opponent but she was not overawed at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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Halep battles into quarters
Simona Halep also progressed, overcoming Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-2, 7-5.
In a battle of the two seeds, with Navarro seeded 11th, Halep came out on top to reach the final eight of the U.S. Open for a second consecutive year.
A semifinalist last year, Halep raced out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and she never looked back. Navarro showed some fight in the second, rallying from 3-5 down to level the set but Halep held her nerve to reign supreme.
"This was very special today to win," Halep said. "I want to enjoy today."
Semis on the line
World No. 2 Angelique Kerber will face last year's finalist Roberta Vinci in Tuesday's first quarterfinal, while Caroline Wozniacki is up against Anastasija Sevastova.
— Omnisport's Sacha Pisani contributed to this report.
