Serena outmuscles No.4 Azarenka, advances to US Open Last 16

Three time former champion Serena Williams posted a hard earned 6-1, 7-6(5) win and upset fourth seed Victoria Azarenka to advance to the pre-quarterfinals of the 2011 US Open, season's last Grand Slam event being played here at Flushing Meadows in New York, USA.

Serena made a trademark overwhelmming start to the match and reeled off five games in a row before Azarenka got on board. Williams then served for the set for a 6-1 finish.

The second set opened on a competitive note when Azarenka held her first three serves before losing a crucial seventh game to give Williams a decisive lead. Williams then held three match points on Azarenka's at 5-3, just to lose concentration and with it the game. The American then failed to serve for the match despite holding a match point at 40-30.

As the set went into the tie-break, Williams held her ground again and after trailing 4-5, reeled off the next three points to complete the 6-1, 7-6(5) victory in one hour and 50 minutes of play.

Williams hit a whopping 39 winners and 12 aces in the entire match but also committed 24 unforced errors that resulted in such a struggle, particularly in the second set.

Serena now takes the winner of the match between Ana Ivanovic and Sloane Stephens, who take court in just a few minutes from now.