Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams produced a rich vein of form as she overcame in-form Ericsson Open champion Katerina Siniakova of Czech Republic to reach the third round of the Rogers Cup here on Thursday.
The 37-year-old, who finished as the runner-up in Montreal three years ago, was forced to draw on all of her vast experience before she eventually prevailed Siniakova 7-5, 7-5 in an exhilarating second-round clash that lasted for one hour and 39 minutes.
Williams snapped Siniakova's six-match winning streak in style as she hammered 32 winners, including 12 aces, while making just nine unforced errors throughout the two-set thriller.
With the win, the American has now set up a highly-anticipated pre-quarterfinal clash against No. 5 seed Elina Svitolina, who defeated Russia's Daria Kasatkina 7-6, 6-4.
Williams, who will be chasing her third U.S. Open crown next month after reaching the Wimbledon and Australian Open finals this year, had earlier registered her first-ever win in Toronto when she rebounded strongly to post a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Irina-Camelia Begu in a rain-hit opening encounter.
Meanwhile, in another women's singles clash, Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza ousted Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens 7-5, 6-2 to reach the third round.
She will now cross swords with Ashleigh Barty of Australia for a place in the last eight.
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