A long day in Arthur Ashe Stadium gave way to a sublime night, with Serena and Venus Williams playing the 27th edition of their storied rivalry. It was an evening fit for a queen – with two on court and royalty from the worlds of stage and screen in the stands, celebrities galore descending on Flushing Meadows for the must-see match of the tournament.

The day itself seemed to sense the occasion, a pair of afternoon quarterfinal marathons – a three-set win for Roberta Vinci and a five-set triumph for Marin Cilic – pushing the start of Serena-Venus back an hour, building the sense of excitement and anticipation to a fever pitch.

The match delivered the goods, going the distance before Serena punctuated her victory with a 107 mph ace into the corner, closing out her big sister, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, to advance into the semifinals and move within two victories of the first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1988. At the end, to the roaring appreciation from the crowd, the two champions embraced at the net, having penned another unforgettable chapter in the greatest sister act in sporting history.-USopen