NEW YORK — As uncanny as two sisters rising from urban blight to become world-beaters is how uncannily convergent the careers of Venus and Serena Williams have become.

Deep into their second decades on tour, the California-raised siblings share nearly identical marks in major titles, head-to-head meetings, prize money, hardcourt titles and U.S. Open crowns.

During the last 10 days at Flushing Meadows, their easy march through the women's draw has been in near lockstep. Neither has dropped a set, and they are surrendering a tournament-low 3.5 games (Serena) and 3.75 games (Venus) per match.

"They have dominated," TV commentator and U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez says.

Something must give when the sisters face off Wednesday night in a marquee quarterfinal at the U.S. Open.

"It's just disappointing to be so soon," said No. 4 seed Serena, who drew No. 7 seed Venus in her quarter by the luck of the draw.

"Hopefully, it'll get to the point where we meet later in the draw," Venus said.

Close in life as well as age (Venus, 28, is 15 months older than Serena, 26), the sisters are again knocking heads regularly deep in majors following several years in which circumstances, including injuries, periodically kept one or the other from playing their best.

"Life happened," Venus said after thumping No. 9 seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-1, 6-3 in the fourth round Monday. "You can't always predict it. The best part is that we're still here, going stronger than ever in my opinion."

"I just feel like we're both playing better and feeling better," Serena said after her 6-2, 6-2 win against unseeded Severine Bremond of France.

If the public hasn't become entirely comfortable with two devoted sisters forced to duke it out at the highest level of sport, Venus and Serena have appeared more accustomed to the situation the more they've played on big stages. Serena already had her game face on Monday night.

"I know she can definitely bury (her emotions)," she said, "so I can do the same thing."

This will be their 11th meeting at a major — naturally, they are tied 5-5 — and their fourth at the U.S. Open. Venus leads 2-1, beating Serena in the final to win the second of two titles in 2001 and again in the fourth round in 2005. Serena won in 2002, knocking off Venus in the final to capture her second New York title. Neither has been to the final since then.

The match will likely hinge on emotional management and execution.

Two-time U.S. Open champ Tracy Austin says there won't be any secrets and that it will come down to first-serve percentage, handling nerves, taking control of points and "who plays their game better on that given day."