Serena Williams beats Hungary’s Melinda Czink to reach quarterfinals in Stanford

Serena Williams reaches quarterfinals in Stanford

STANFORD, Calif. — Wimbledon champion Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals of the $700,000 WTA Premier Bank of the West Classic, beating Hungary’s Melinda Czink 6-3, 7-6 (7).

Williams, seeded first and ranked No. 2, has won nine straight matches and 13 of 14 overall. She next plays Australia’s Samantha Stosur on Friday.

“It should be a good match,” Williams said. “She’s improved tons; leaps and bounds. I’ve been a little bit off this whole week. I hope I can get back on.”

Williams finished with 10 aces Thursday and brushed past her opponent in the first set. Czink, a left-hander, played a stronger second set in forcing Williams to a tiebreaker in a match that lasted nearly two hours.

“She served well, toward the end especially,” Williams said. “I could have returned better but it was still good practice.”

Williams adjusted to a shorter toss on her serve at the beginning of the match because of a bright noon sun.

“It only affected four or five games but those games could be crucial,” Williams said. “I made some key errors so it was good I ended up winning.”

Venus Williams, seeded second and ranked No. 3, joined her younger sister in the quarterfinals, needing just over an hour to get by qualifier Alla Kudryavseva, 6-3, 7-5, and setting up a Friday night match against former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova, who continues her comeback from right shoulder surgery.

“I’m excited. I love playing against her and it’s been a while,” Sharapova said Wednesday. “It’s great to come back and have the chance to play against a great player like Venus, who is at the top of her game right now.”

Sharapova has won three of the five previous meetings, the last a three-set win in 2007 at Miami. Williams’ only two wins have come at Wimbledon in 2005 and 2007.

“My key is to execute my game as best I can,” Williams said. “There’s no secret to that. I feel like it will be a good matchup for me. I always enjoy playing against Maria.”

Eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France advanced with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over qualifier Melanie Oudin.

Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic, seeded fourth and ranked No. 6, meets Germany’s Sabine Lisicki in a late match, with the winner facing Bartoli.