seniors are rolling into the semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open.
Roger Federer and Venus Williams won in straight sets on Thursday, extending the 36-year-old Swiss superstar's bid for a record sixth title in the desert and the 37-year-old American's attempt to win her first.
Federer defeated Chung Hyeon 7-5, 6-1 and equal his career-best start of 16-0 from 2006.
Williams beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2 in the event where she first broke out as a 16-year-old qualifier in 1997.
Federer won the Australian Open in January and has regained the No 1 ranking. Williams returned to the top 10 last year after being runner-up at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
"I'm just happy that I'm able to keep up a good level. Same for Venus," Federer said. "Really happy for her that she's really consistently easily making all these semis and finals and winning tournaments."
With Rod laver and Pete Sampras looking on, Federer fired 12 aces and was broken just once.
Federer and Chung last played in the Australian Open semifinals, when the South Korean was forced to retire trailing 6-1, 5-2 because of blisters on his left foot. Federer went on to win the title and at 36 is the No 1 player again.
Federer saved a handful of break points in the first game of the second set and then broke Chung twice, including on a double fault to take a 5-1 lead.
"I had a plan in place, but then you adjust to it constantly," Federer said. "Maybe it's the wind, maybe it's the opponent, because you just don't know his patterns yet. I like it when it's the unknown, even though it can be a bit scary."