Venus keeps up with sister Serena at U.S. Open

Venus Williams of the U.S celebrates with a thumbs-up to the crowd after defeating Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland following their women's singles match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York August 27, 2014. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venus Williams kept up with little sister Serena on Wednesday, beating 78th-ranked Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland in straight sets to advance to the third round of the U.S. Open.

The 34-year-old, seven-times grand slam winner reached the round for the first time in four years at Flushing Meadows through a 6-1 6-4 victory on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court which she helped christen with the first Open final there in 1997.