Williams sisters set for clash in last 16

The sporting world's most extraordinary sibling rivalry will be revived after Venus and Serena Williams won their third-round matches at the US Open on Friday.

The two American sisters will meet on home turf in the last 16 today after Serena beat Francesca Schiavone 6-3 6-4 and Venus won 6-3 6-3 against Daniela Hantuchova.

Almost as intriguing a prospect will be the showdown between Russian top seed Maria Sharapova and emerging teenager Sania Mirza, who on Friday became the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round at a grand slam.

Men's favourite Roger Federer was at times tormented by a French box-of-tricks named Fabrice Santoro before moving through to round three with a 7-5 7-5 7-6 in a mini-classic.

Santoro, 32 and ranked 76, delighted the evening session Arthur Ashe Court crowd and drew smiles from the Swiss top seed by playing shots from between his legs, behind his back and even with eyes averted.

"I enjoy playing against him," said Federer, who beat Santoro en route to winning the title last year. "He gave me a lesson the first time we played.

"He sizzled me up with his slice and spins. It was a pleasure to play against him."

Australian third seed Lleyton Hewitt eased through to the third round but Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko and 1998 semi-finalist Carlos Moya of Spain suffered surprise losses.

Matches between Venus and Serena are intriguing - often disappointing, always highly charged.

They last met at a grand slam in the 2003 Wimbledon final, when Serena won a subdued contest against an unfit Venus. Their overall head-to-head stands at 7-6 in Serena's favour but Venus won their last meeting in Miami in May.

Only one of their 13 previous encounters - their first meeting in the round of 64 at the 1998 Australian Open - has come at an earlier stage in a tournament.

Wimbledon champion Venus, despite being seeded two places below Serena at number 10 and despite having lost five successive grand slam finals to her sister, is favourite on form, with Serena still looking tentative after knee and ankle problems.

"I think I'm playing okay," said Serena. "I definitely think I'm getting better and better. My knee's definitely feeling a lot better."

She described it as "disappointing" to have to play Venus at such an early stage of a grand slam.

Venus, on the other hand, yelled at the Arthur Ashe Court crowd after beating Hantuchova: "Are you guys ready for the Williams sisters? We'll see you on Sunday."

Sharapova, who had dropped only three games in the first two rounds, beat German Julia Schruff 6-2 6-4 to reach the fourth round.

Sharapova's preparations for the tournament were limited by a pectoral muscle injury, but she said: "I felt pretty good. I haven't had that many matches coming to the Open so it's good to get three matches in before the tough ones come."

Fourth seed Kim Clijsters was in unforgiving mood in her 6-1 6-4 win over Japan's Ai Sugiyama.

She next faces battling Venezuelan Maria Vento-Kabchi, who earned a third consecutive three-set win, beating Israel's Shahar Peer 7-5 4-6 6-3.

Hewitt, the 2001 champion, showed great opportunism to defeat Argentina's Jose Acasuso 7-6 7-6 6-2. He faces a third-round encounter with the thunderous serve of American Taylor Dent.

Unseeded Thai Paradorn Srichaphan, ranked 51, upset Davydenko 6-4 7-5 6-3. He will next play Italian Davide Sanguinetti, who ousted 31st-seed Moya 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4.

British teenager Andy Murray ran out of steam in his second successive five-setter, beaten 6-0 in the fifth by France's Arnaud Clement.

Yesterday's results - (women) Henin-Hardenne bt Cho 6-0 7-6; Dementieva bt Chakvetadze 6-1 4-6 7-6; Schnyder bt Asagoe 6-1 6-3.