World number one Serena Williams and German player Angelique Kerber have sailed to the Australian Open fourth round as the mercury topped 40 degrees for a fourth straight day in Melbourne.
Bidding for her first Australian Open crown since 2010, the American ace extended her overall win-loss record over Slovakian 31st seed Daniela Hantuchova with a 6-3 6-3 victory in 80 minutes at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.
Williams will now meet either Australian 17th seed Samantha Stosur, who beat her in the final of the 2011 US Open, or 14th-seeded Serbian Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round.
According to reports, German ninth seed Kerber became the first woman into the fourth round of the Open with a 6-3 6-4 win over American Alison Riske, and will meet Italian 28th seed Flavia Pennetta, who beat Mona Barthel of Germany 6-1 7-5.
