Venus sets up clash with Sanchez in last 8

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Sydney: American Venus Williams advanced to the Olympic tennis quarter-finals on Friday by posting her 29th successive victory to set up a showdown with the last player to defeat her - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain.

Williams, whose wondrous winning streak includes triumphant runs at Wimbledon and the US Open, defeated Jana Kandarr of Germany 6-2, 6-2 in the third round. "I'm in the quarter-finals now," the 20-year-old Williams said. "It's a little more serious from here."

With sisters Lyndrea and Serena, her doubles partner here, and mother Oracene chanting "U-S-A" from the stands - one section away from onlookers Chelsea Clinton and Bill Gates - the second seeded Williams took apart Kandarr's service game.

The German held serve only once in the 52-minute match. Williams leads the head-to-head series with Sanchez Vicario 4-3, but the Spaniard has some wins that might give her a confidence boost. The 28-year-old veteran handed Williams her first defeat as a pro in Oakland in 1994, and also beat her in a Sydney hard court final in 1998.

Still, Williams is unruffled by the prospects of facing Sanchez Vicario, one of the game's greatest battlers. "I only have to play my game. When I'm aggressive and play my game, I usually win," she said with a smile.



(c) Reuters Limited.