Nasty Serena Williams Breezes Past Old Foe at Us Open

Serena Williams utilized her nasty streak at the US Open yesterday as she kept her title defence on track with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Spaniard María José Martínez Sánchez in the third round.

The second seed was in cruise control until she dropped serve early in the second set but roared back to win six of the next eight games and claim the victory.

When she met the media afterwards, the 12-times grand-slam champion sported a T-shirt with the slogan 'Can't spell Dynasty without Nasty' emblazoned on the front. "I got nasty today, but to myself," she said. "I was just screaming to myself because I wasn't very happy with my performance. This is the new 'Delicious' campaign that I'm a part of, because I'm delicious."

The match had promised to be a feisty encounter after the last meeting between the two ended with a victorious Williams labeling the Spaniard a cheat.

At the French Open earlier this summer, Martínez Sánchez had won a point despite the ball seemingly striking her on the arm, which under the rules would result in her losing the point. Martínez Sánchez denied that the ball had hit her but television replays confirmed otherwise, much to Williams's disgust.

There were no problems between the two today, though and Williams produced her best when she needed it in the second set. "I got super-pumped when I got down 1-3,"she said. "I felt I needed to do something to charge my batteries. I just wanted to play harder and do better."

Williams had lost only seven games in her first two matches in this tournament so far but she more than doubled that total today – although the American is still yet to drop a set. "Every time I play, I say, 'I'm going to be a serve-and-volleyer," Williams said. "I even used to like Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe. But I couldn't play more opposite than them. I love ground strokes, I love rallies, I love hitting the ball."

Williams's next opponent is the No22 seed Daniela Hantuchova, from Slovakia. "She's been playing so well so it's not going to be an easy match," Williams said. "I look forward to it. She is a player that does not do anything bad and does everything good. Those kind of players are tricky and tough."

Flavia Pennetta, of Italy, also progressed to the fourth round, comprehensively defeating Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 6-1, 6-1. The Belgian Kim Clijsters is continuing her comeback against her compatriot Kirsten Flipkens.