Venus, Serena Williams muscle into quarterfinals.(South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

WIMBLEDON, England _ It's cold, ruthless aggression that has taken Serena Williams to the top of women's tennis, and rarely has she been as relentlessly offensive against a top opponent as she was Monday in a rain-interrupted victory over Chanda Rubin.

It was mesmerizing to watch the consistent strength of her game. She drove Rubin off the court with slice serves to the deuce side, then battered the returns into the open court.

She struck thunderbolts, low and deep, even while backing up. Her serve was so dominating she faced only two break points, defending both, one with an overpowering 102-mph service winner. It was the only service game in which she was extended to deuce.

With two consecutive and decisive …