Serena makes quick work of Krajicek

NEW YORK (AP) - Neither her words nor her play indicated that Serena Williams was distracted one bit Thursday at the U.S. Open.

She would have been forgiven if they had, of course, given that her older sister Venus withdrew from the tournament 24 hours earlier and revealed a recently diagnosed immune system disease.

Focused as ever, Serena absolutely overwhelmed Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands 6-0, 6-1 to reach the third round, showing precisely why many consider her the favorite to win a fourth championship at Flushing Meadows and 14th Grand Slam title overall.

How was it to set aside Venus' situation?

"It really wasn't that difficult, to be honest. I mean, she wants me to do the best; she wouldn't want me to suffer," Serena said. "So now, if anything, it should motivate me more."

If that's so, look out. She's lost three games in two matches this week. She's won 14 matches in a row and 29 of her last 30 on hard courts. On Thursday, she hit 10 aces, erased the only break point she faced, compiled a 25-5 edge in winners and made only 10 unforced errors in a powerful display that lasted all of 49 minutes.

"Did you guys see the match? Or was it too quick?" Krajicek asked reporters.

That was part of a pattern in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Day 4 of the year's last Grand Slam tournament: Winners Serena, Novak Djokovic (two), Roger Federer (seven), Caroline Wozniacki (two), and Francesca Schiavone (two) combined to lose a total of 14 games in five matches.

Tennis fans who wanted some drama needed to watch Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 French Open champion and U.S. Open runner-up, outlast No. 7-seeded Gael Monfils 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 at a packed Louis Armstrong Stadium.