New York, NY (AHN) - Venus Williams and younger sister Serena, routed their respective opponents on Sunday t take another step toward what is shaping up as a semifinal showdown between the top two American players in the world either male or female.

Serena thrashed No. 10 Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-4 while Venus overpowered No. 5 Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-2 just a couple of hours later.

"I'm definitely better than I was in my first match," Serena Williams said.

The sisters are tied 7-7 in career matches against each other, with the majority of those being meetings in the final round of several tournaments. If they meet this time, it would come in the semifinal round.

"That would be awesome because it would mean that there is a Williams in the final," Venus said. She also noted: "We have one more step."

The road ahead is a tough one for each sister as Serena, will face No. 1 Justine Henin in the quarterfinal round at a third consecutive major after having lost to Henin at both, the French Open and Wimbledon.

"Yeah, we know each other pretty well," Henin said after dumping No. 15 Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-2 late Sunday night. "I know everyone was waiting for that match, and here we are."

Venus Williams will face No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, who knocked out No. 19 Sybille Bammer 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

Jankovic has beaten Venus Williams three consecutive times, including a 2006 Wimbledon match and the French Open this year.

Both Williams sisters are two-time U.S. Open champions and are playing their best tennis at just the right moment though the younger Williams said she still isn't where she wants to be.

"I'm still not where I want to be -- or near," Serena said. "But I feel like I'm doing better, which is important."

The Williams sisters father, Richard, said Serena still has an undisclosed injury she is dealing with.

"Serena has a few problems that we haven't talked to no one about," Richard Williams said, but wouldn't elaborate. "I think she's done a marvelous job of hiding it. Extremely marvelous."

When asked if she was ailing, Serena replied: "I would be the last person to tell you, just in case Justine or Safina reads it, and they're like, 'Uh, I know what to do.'"

The younger Williams did comment on possibly facing her sister in the semis.

"Obviously I want nothing but the best for her, and she wants nothing but the best for me -- unless, of course, we're playing each other," Serena said. "Then it's like, 'OK, I want to win.' That's how we look at it."