NEW YORK - Venus Williams notched up her 70th career victory at the US Open on Thursday, reaching the third round with a crisp 6-2, 6-3 victory over Julia Goerges.
Venus Williams of US hits a return against Julia Goerges of Germany during their 2016 US Open Women's Singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 1, 2016
After surviving 63 unforced errors to squeeze past Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova in the first round, the 36-year-old Williams had just 17 -- with 18 winners -- in her one hour and 18 minute win.
"Woo hoo! Feels good," said Williams, who unlike others playing under the new roof on Arthur Ashe stadium was buoyed by the enthusiastic crowd rather than put off by the amplified noise.
"There's nothing like playing in New York," said Williams, who first played on Ashe in 1997 -- the year it was unveiled.
"It was a long time ago," she said. "I'm so grateful to still be here playing, winning matches."
The American veteran also revealed that she had dropped sugar from her diet in a bid to keep her in the top 10 and challenging for the majors.
"It was just something that I wanted to try. Like I always said, I'm always trying something different to find a peak performance, something I started recently," she said.
Losing her sweet tooth, she added, is not a problem.
"I don't miss anything about it. I can fit in my clothes, I feel good. When you're having results, you don't really miss the past. But if it's not working and you still feel the same, it's like, Why not go back?"
With her 72nd main draw appearance in a major Williams has broken the Open Era mark she shared with compatriot Amy Frazier for most Grand Slams contested.
The seven-time major winner, who won back-to-back titles in Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, said her latest Grand Slam bid was right on track.
"I just want to keep playing aggressive, make less errors," she said. "That's definitely a success in this match."