Venus and Rafael Nadal Wrap Friday up in Straight-Set Fashion at US Open

Venus Williams opened the night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday in style. She defeated her third-round opponent Mandy Minella of Luxembourg in straight sets 6-2, 6-1. Minella did not hold serve until the fifth game of the second set. Venus broke Minella's serve seven times in the match. Venus has yet to drop a set in the tournament.

Venus converted on 82 percent of her first-serve points and generated 29 winners compared to Minella's five. Venus was spectacular at net, winning 18 of her 21 approaches. But Venus only converted on 42 percent of her second-serve points and made 30 unforced errors -- both numbers that must improve if Venus is to proceed further in the tournament.

Venus, like her younger sister Serena, is known for making fashion statements on court. This was no different on Friday. Venus played with a revealing short black dress, permeated with flashy sequins and cut-outs through the back.

Serena, who is the top-ranked player on tour but not playing due to injury, was on hand at the Open for the first time all week. Serena wore a red dress in the player's box, making her return to the tournament she infamously left last year after being ousted on a controversial foot-fault call.

When Venus was asked about her dress, the two-time tournament champion who also boasts her own clothing line responded "Serena is looking rather sexy tonight. She looks lovely in red."

Venus, 30, has now worn three different dresses in the tournament, when most players decide to go with one for the duration. She was asked if she would wear a different dress if she were to reach the finals.

"Seven is a lot of dresses," Venus said. "That would be an honor to wear seven dresses all the way through."

Venus, who won the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001, has now advanced to the fourth round in all 12 U.S. Open tournaments she has played in. Venus moves on to the fourth round where she will face 16th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel. Venus has won all five career matches against the Israeli-born player, including three victories this year -- one being on hard court.

On the men's side, top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain ended the night on Friday with a straight-set victory over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

Nadal has yet to drop a set throughout the tournament. After winning the first set handily on Friday, Nadal won six straight points and rallied back from a 1-5 deficit in the second-set tiebreaker to claim the set. Nadal took the third and final set by breaking Istomin's serve in the 12th game.

Nadal continues to serve very well at the Open. He saved all seven break points in the match and won 83 percent of his first-serve points and 72 percent of his second-serve points. He also placed 65 percent of his first serves in play.

Nadal, who has won eight Grand Slam tournaments, is seeking to complete a career Grand Slam this year at Flushing Meadows. The U.S. Open is the only major that eludes the Spaniard .

He moves on to the third round where he will play Gilles Simon of France. Simon, who has a ranking of No. 42 because he missed most of the year with a knee injury, is a former No. 6 player and playing solid tennis once again. Nadal, however, has a 3-1 career record against the Frenchman with all matches coming on hard court.