Bacsinszky downs Venus in Paris

Paris - Swiss eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky reached a second consecutive French Open quarter-final with a 6-2, 6-4 win over 35-year-old Venus Williams on Wednesday.

Bacsinszky, who went to the semi-finals in 2015, will face unseeded Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens for a place in the last-four.

Her victory prevented Williams from reaching her fifth quarter-final in Paris and first since 2006.

It also ended the prospect of a Venus Williams-Serena Williams semi-final.

Bacsinszky reeled off nine out of 10 games after slipping 0-2 down in the first set to lay the foundation for her victory.

Venus, the oldest player in the women's draw, hit just six winners.

Bertens defeated American 15th seed Madison Keys 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final.

The world number 58, who knocked out Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber in the first round, has now won 11 matches in succession.

She arrived in Paris having won the Nuremburg claycourt title as a qualifier.

French Open women's singles quarter-finals line-up (x denotes seeded player):

Serena Williams (USA x1) v Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)

Kiki Bertens (NED) v Timea Bacsinszky (SUI x8)

Shelby Rogers (USA) v Garbine Muguruza (ESP x4)

Samantha Stosur (AUS x21) v Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)