And then there was one! 

Madison Keys’ and Venus Williams’ dreams of reaching the finals at the U.S. Open came to a halt in the fourth round as the tournament moves toward its dramatic conclusion this weekend at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. With Keys and Venus Williams vanquished, Serena Williams is the lone American women remaining in the singles competition. 

Keys fell to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3, 6-4, the second consecutive year that she has lost in the fourth round at the Open.

“I think it was nerves a little bit.” said the eighth-seeded native of Rock Island, Ill. “I definitely think I got off to a bad start, and then I was trying to catch up. I definitely don’t think I was playing my best.”  

Wozniak was ranked No. 74 entering this country’s premiere tennis event. However, the 26-year-old is extremely familiar with and comfortable on the Open courts, having reached the finals in 2009 and 2014, losing to Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams, respectively. 

Venus Williams’ fourth-round exit came at the hands, or racket, of Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic, falling 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, dropping the deciding set in a tie-breaker. After the defeat, Williams shared her thoughts on the tough match. 

“… We both competed really well,” said the 36-year-old Williams. “Of course I’d like to come out on top of the match … I don’t know, she had a little more luck today.” Williams was strong in the first set, but acknowledged she had too many errors in the tie breaker.

Her younger sister Serena, who will turn 35 Sept. 26, has had no such problems. In a tidy one hour and eight minutes, Williams bested Yaroslava Shedova of Russia, 6-2, 6-3 in straight sets, to reach the quarter-final. In the process, she surpassed Roger Federer for the most victories in Grand Slam matches in tennis’ Open era with 308. 

“I just think winning 308 is awesome,” said Williams after her historic win. 

She added, “I definitely never thought I would be playing still. Now I don’t really see when I’m going to stop, because I’m just enjoying these moments out here, getting to break records that I didn’t even know existed or I didn’t even know was possible.”