Liguori: Top Seeds Williams, Djokovic Have No Problem Beating The Heat
By Ann Liguori
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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The top seeds made it look easy on a hot and humid Labor Day.
Five-time US Open champ Serena Williams needed only 65 minutes on Monday to dispose of Estonia's Kaia KAnepi, the 50th-ranked player in the world.
Serena did not have to labor too hard. Her strong serve and overpowering groundstrokes were too much for her opponent despite Kenepi breaking Williams' serve early in the second set and again in the eighth game. Serena then had to break KAnepi again to close out the match 6-3, 6-3.
Novak Djokovic defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber, the No. 22 seed from Germany, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. Both players showed signs of slowing down due to the extreme heat and humidity. Djokovic, who normally doesn't wear hats, wore a white hat to protect his head from the sun.
Djokovic has been a model of consistency in Grand Slam matches. The 27-year-old Serb has a career 30-2 record in Grand Slam fourth round matches and has advanced to 22 straight Grand Slam tournament quarterfinals since falling in the third round of the 2009 French Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion is looking to advance to his fifth straight US Open final. He won here in 2011.
Williams is through to the quarterfinals for the 14th time in 15 appearances here. Ironically, her win Monday put her in a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time this season.
Serena will next play No. 11 Flavia Pennetta, who beat Aussie Casey Dellacqua, 7-5, 6-2, to start the day.
Djokovic will next play No. 8 Andy Murray, a straight-set winner over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday.
It will be difficult to bet against Djokovic in this championship. The 2014 Wimbledon champ, recently married with a child on the way, seems poised to win his second US Open title.
Williams, who has yet to be tested in this tournament, is a good bet to win her 18th major.
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