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29 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 SEPTEMBER 2018 SPORTS FOOTBALL TENNIS LATE goals from Pedro and Eden Haz- ard gave Chelsea a 2-0 win over Bourne- mouth at Stamford Bridge to maintain the Blues' 100% start to the season. Maurizio Sarri yesterday started with Willian instead of Pedro from the side that grinded out a win over Newcastle United and saw them dominate posses- sion. Similar to Newcastle's tactics last weekend, the Cherries were camped deep in the half after switching to a 3-4- 3. Eddie Howe, who handed debuts to re- cord signing Jefferson Lemar and Diego Rico, had Asmir Begovic to thank for being on top form to keep out efforts from Mateo Kovacic and Marcos Alon- so, who also struck the post. The second half followed a similar pat- tern leading to Sarri bringing on Olivier Giroud, Pedro and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, showing the depth of the club's midfield options. It was the former Barcelona playmaker who broke the deadlock after a neat turn on the edge of the box with his shot tak- ing a wicked deflection. Hazard finished off the job with a nice turn of pace before firing the ball in to make it two goals in two games as Chel- sea stay level with early pace setters Liv- erpool on 12 points. Pedro and Eden Hazard goals secure Chelsea's 100% start Chelsea's winning start under Maurizio Sarri continues SERENA Williams crushed her older sister Venus 6-1 6-2 in a shockingly subdued third round clash at the US Open on Friday to stay on track for a record equalling 24th Grand Slam title The meeting between the famed tennis siblings had been hyped as the biggest night of the US Open but turned into a flat, uninspired spectacle as Serena simply outclassed her sister. The only moment of sus- pense in a contest all but devoid of drama came in the second game when Ser- ena rolled over on her ankle, drawing gasps from the sell- out crowd. Serena was able to continue but at the first changeover called a medical timeout and had her ankle heavily strapped. In the end, though, the only pain being felt was by Venus, who suffered the equal worst defeat in 30 matches against her sister. "This was my best match since my return. I've worked really hard for it ... and hope- fully everything will keep pay- ing off," Serena said in an on- court interview. "I roll my ankles a lot so I just wanted to get it taped as tight as I could for the rest of the match and see how I feel tomorrow." Seven times a Grand Slam winner, Venus held her open- ing serve but it was all down- hill from there as a ruthless Serena swept through the next seven games to take the open- ing set in a breezy 31 minutes and a 2-0 lead in the second. Venus would stop the skid holding her serve at 2-1 before Serena resumed the mugging by building a 5-1 lead before finishing off her sister with a thumping forehand winner. The win was met with polite applause, a hug at the net oth- erwise their was no evident joy in the outcome. "She didn't win that match tonight because I just rolled over. She played untouchable tennis," said Venus. "I think it's the best match she's ever played against me. I don't think I did a lot wrong. But she just did everything right. "I never got to really even touch any balls. When your opponent plays like that, it's not really anything to be upset about." The sell-out crowd that sur- rounded Arthur Ashe Stadium was kept waiting to enter as world number one Rafa Nadal and Russian Karen Khachanov battled inside in a breath-tak- ing clash that set the bar high for the main event. Serena Williams cruises past sister in US Open showdown Serena and Venus Williams