All of that talk about what a daunting draw Serena Williams had for the U.S. Open sure seems off the mark now.
``I've played myself into the tournament,'' Williams said.
Next up: No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo on Monday night.
Because her ranking fell so far during a six-month injury absence, Williams needed a wild card just to enter the tournament. Unseeded, she wound up in a tough section, with No. 16 Ana Ivanovic and No. 17 Daniela Hantuchova in her early path.
Well, Williams followed her straight-set win over Hantuchova by eliminating Ivanovic _ the hard-court circuit U.S. Open Series winner _ in the third round 6-2, 6-4 on Sunday. Now, seven-time major champion Williams takes on two-time major champion Mauresmo, who got past Mara Santangelo of Italy 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
Williams leads Mauresmo 9-1 in career meetings.
``My game just likes her game,'' Williams said.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
