Venus Williams has beaten plucky Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2 7-5 to set up a hotly anticipated fourth-round showdown at the U.S. Tennis Open with comeback mum Kim Clijsters.
The American third seed once again stepped on to a floodlit Arthur Ashe Stadium with heavy strapping above and below her left knee but had little trouble overpowering her 46th-ranked opponent in the opening set with brutal groundstrokes.
Rybarikova, who had taken a pain-killing injection before the match for a left-toe injury, landed on her feet in the second set as she steamed ahead 3-1 but Venus soon cut her back to size with a series of spectacular volley winners.
A forehand error ended Rybarikova's night under the spotlight, leaving a beaming Williams to look forward to her clash with Clijsters, a match between two former U.S. Open champions.
