World number ones Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic ruled supreme on Tuesday, sending ominous warnings to their rivals with dazzling, runaway victories over Spanish opponents at the US Open.
Djokovic said he played some of his best tennis on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court in trouncing Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-0 6-0, and Williams could not have done better, handing Carla Suarez Navarro a 6-0 6-0 beating at the National Tennis Centre.
Dominant performances are not out of the ordinary for those rankings leaders but fifth-seeded Li Na provided something special by breaking another barrier for Chinese tennis.
The 31-year-old Li became China’s first semi-finalist ever at the US Open by beating Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 6-7 6-2 at a windy Flushing Meadows.
Li pumped both fists in joy after 24th seed Makarova sailed a backhand long to end the two-hour, 20-minute match as the crowd showered her with cheers.
Other winners were also tested as defending men’s champion Andy Murray worked hard to get past 65th-ranked Denis Istomin 6-7 6-1 6-4 6-4, and women’s second seed Victoria Azarenka overcame Ana Ivanovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 to complete the women’s quarter-finals field.
The lone upset by rankings was registered by ninth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka, who ousted fifth seed Tomas Berdych 3-6 6-1 7-6 6-2.
Wawrinka, who has now won five of his last six matches against Berdych, advanced to a quarters clash against Murray.
Li will not have too long to revel in her achievement as the win set up a semi-final date with defending champion Williams.
The 31-year-old Williams, aiming to become the oldest US Open women’s winner since tennis turned professional in 1968, has lost just 13 games in her five matches.
Djokovic moved into the quarters against Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny, who ended the magical run of 2001 US Open winner Lleyton Hewitt by escaping a 1-4 hole in the fourth set and a 2-5 stranglehold in the fifth for a 6-3 3-6 6-7 6-4 7-5 win.
The 32-year-old unseeded Hewitt, who had upset former champion Juan Martin del Potro in the second round, gave credit to the Russian.
“In the end, he played the big games when he needed to,” said the Australian.
Earlier, Azarenka overcame Ivanovic, the 13th seed, 4-6 6-3 6-4 to complete the women’s quarter-finals field after their contest was postponed from Monday.
Azarenka will play Daniela Hantuchova in the last eight.
Women’s quarter-final: Pennetta bt Vinci 6-4 6-1.