Serena Williams powered into the last 16 of the US Tennis Open, reinforcing her status as favourite to cement her return from life-threating health troubles with a 14th Grand Slam title.
Williams swept to a 5-0 lead over fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka in just 17 minutes en route to a 6-1 7-6 (7-5) triumph.
The victory kept her on a path toward a fourth US Open title, but the 29-year-old American says she plays now with a new perspective on the game.
Williams will face former world number one Ana Ivanovic in the quarter-finals after the Serbian 16th seed beat American Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-4.
