Venus Williams said she wants to see her sister Serena win the Grand Slam, despite being tasked to end her historic bid in the US Open quarter-finals.

The Williams sisters will meet for the 27th time in their professional careers, after they advanced to the last eight at Flushing Meadows with respective two-set wins on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.

The ledger sits 15-11 in Serena's favour, while in their three meetings since 2009 - read recent history - Serena is 2-1 up.

With all due respect to Roberta Vinci, Ekaterina Makarova and Kristina Mladenovic - prospective semi-finalist in the Williams' half of the draw - Venus looms as Serena's toughest test between now and the final.

And Venus said she will be battling against her own desire to see her younger sister complete an historic feat.

"I don't think anyone wants to be a spoiler. I think people love to see history being made," Venus told a news conference after her 6-2 6-1 win over qualifier Anett Kontaveit.

"No one is out to be a spoiler, but at the same time, you're focused on winning your match even though the circumstances are really much different than you [would normally expect]."

The sisters, with 28 singles majors between them, have played against one another in 12 different seasons since their first meeting in 1998.

Their four US Open clashes have seen the winner alternate - Venus won the 2001 final, Serena responded in the 2002 decider, Venus won in the 2006 last 16, before Serena emerged victorious in the 2008 quarters.

Venus said the dream was always for the Williams sisters to play on the professional stage, and guarantee family success.

"What's it meant to me? I don't know," Venus replied, when asked about the sisters' rivalry. 

"I feel like that's what we always wanted growing up, just to be out there on the big stage duking it out when someone named Williams will win. 

"That's a given on that one."