World No.1 Serena Williams has served up an ominous warning to her would-be challengers at the Australian Open in a 6-1 6-1 demolition of Russian Daria Kasatkina.
Williams dropped just two points in seven service games against the shellshocked teen to blast her way into the fourth round in 44 minutes on Friday night.
"I definitely think I played better today. Everything I've been trying to work on was kind of clicking," said the rampant top seed.
Williams arrived in Melbourne without having had a competitive outing since last year's US Open.
But the American's injury concerns seem in the distant past as Williams enters the second week promising to ramp up her bid for a seventh crown.
"I never think I'm playing fantastic. I'm always very hard on myself. I always feel like there's room for improvement," Williams said.
"Hopefully with each match I can just do better."
Setting up a Sunday showdown with another Russian - Margarita Gasparyan - Williams dominated the ace count 6-1 and landed 80 per cent of her first deliveries on Rod Laver Arena.
The 18-year-old Kasatkina had won her first two matches at Melbourne Park against No.27 seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia and Croatian Ana Konjuh in straight sets.
But she was reduced to the part of bit player against the world No.1, who likened her fearsome will to win to that of Lleyton Hewitt's post-match
Williams recalled how she'd partnered Hewitt in the mixed doubles in Melbourne back in 1998 and had admired the South Australian ever since.
"I remember it was fun. I asked him if he wanted to play. We were both 16," Williams said.
"(I thought) it would be really fun to kind of play together. It was fun. We didn't win. I expected to win the tournament, which I don't know why, but we did have a great time.
"We both have been incredible fighters. Lleyton, his whole career has been based on fighting and playing well, good footwork as well.
"It's definitely sad when you kind of started with someone to see them advance on, but I'm really happy for him."
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