Daniela Hantuchova Knocked-off by Serena Williams in The Fourth Round Match of US Open

In a post-match press conference a couple days ago, Serena Williams sported a t-shirt with the words “Can’t spell dynasty without nasty,” emblazoned on it. But today, the No. 2 seed didn’t really need to get nasty in her fourth round match against Daniela Hantuchova. Cool, cold precision worked just fine.

At 2-2 in the first set, Williams noticeably picked up her game and intensity. She hit three straight aces to hold for 3-2. In the ensuing game, she began pounding her ground strokes into the corners, moving Hantuchova from side to side, setting herself up for winners to the open court or forcing Hantuchova into errors. Williams used her aggressive ground game to break Hantuchova in the sixth game, and she never let up, raising her shot making to a level Hantuchova couldn't keep up with. Williams won the last 10 games of this match for a convincing win in 64 minutes, 6-2, 6-0.

Williams hit 8 aces, 27 winners (to her opponent’s 9) and won 85 percent of the points off her first serve.

Williams has looked exceedingly confident at the Open this year. And why not? She was 21-1 at the Grand Slams going into this match, and holds the titles at the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon. In fact, despte her struggles this past summer, where she had losses in smaller events to players such as No. 15-ranked Samantha Stosur and No. 29-ranked Sybille Bammer, people have come to expect her to raise her game at the majors. It's almost taken for granted that she will win against a player of Hantuchova's stature. One of the big questions from TV commentator Mary Joe Fernandez before the match was how she managed to play with her large hoop earings.

"Practice. Practice makes perfect,'' Williams replied, not missing a beat.

Williams said after the match that sometimes she can be such a perfectionist that she can be too hard on herself. There was no need for that today. What did she tell herself before this dismantling of the No. 22 seed?

“Today, I said, ‘Serena, just relax and see what you can do.’’’

Going into the match, it was clear Hantuchova, would have her hands full. She had only beaten Williams once in their eight previous meetings, and that win had taken place over three-and-a-half years ago. Yet, considering Hantuchova had a solid hard court season, going 6-4 in summer hard court events and having pulled her ranking up from No. 43 earlier in the year to its current No. 24, many expected more from her in this match. She managed to win just 33 of the 92 points played in the two sets.

Williams moves on to the quarterfinals, where she will take on the winner of the match between the No. 7 seed, Vera Zvonareva and the No. 10 seed, Flavia Pennetta. If seedings hold, Serena will have a showdown with sister Venus in the semifinals.

Would Serena Williams be watching Venus Williams' match against Kim Clijsters later today?

"Absolutely,'' Serena said. "Go V."