Venus Williams Meets CiCi Bellis Tonight In Stanford; Top Seed Sam Stosur In Action In D.C.

In a clash of generations, 36-year-old Venus Williams will meet 17-year-old phenom CiCi Bellis tonight in Stanford. Bellis advanced to the quarterfinals after posting a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over countrywoman Sachia Vickery yesterday.

“It’s not going to be easy,” said Bellis. “But I don’t think anything is impossible. Obviously, it’ll be such an honor playing one of the best players of all time, and she’s done so much in her career and still doing amazing things. It’s going to be fun, and I’m very excited.”

The 203rd-ranked Bellis already played Serena Williams once before, losing to the No. 1 in Miami. This is her second Top 10 match after Serena.

Former champion Dominika Cibulkova opened advanced the quarterfinals with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over Urszula Radwanska. Cibulkova just beat the other Radwanska at Wimbledon, then got married and now is playing in California.

“I have to admit, I was just on the other side of the planet a few days ago and I’m playing on a different surface, so it’s very very tough,” Cibulkova said.

“But tennis life is tough because you’re here one day, there the next and you have to adapt. But I was trying my best even though I wasn’t feeling great on the court today. But I was mentally tough and I made it through.”

Cibulkova will face Misaki Doi.

Also today, CoCo Vandeweghe faces Alison Riske and Saisai Zheng meets Johanna Konta.

In Washinton, top seed Sam Stosur headlines quarterfinals play today. The former US Open champion takes on American Jessica Pegula.

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