Serena rolls on in Melbourne

Melbourne - Serena Williams overcame a feisty challenge from Ayumi Morita at the start of second set but recovered to swat aside the Japanese 6-1, 6-3 and ease into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday.

The 31-year-old American, seeking a sixth crown at Melbourne Park and a third successive Grand Slam title, was 3-0 down in the second set after suffering a service break for the first time in the tournament.

Showing no discomfort from the ankle strain she sustained in the opening round, however, the third seed stormed back to win the next six games and dismiss the world No 72 in 66 minutes.

Williams, who approached record levels with her serve when she hit the 207km/h mark in the first set, set up a last 16 date with Russia's Maria Kirilenko.

Latest results from day six of the Australian Open on Saturday:

Women's singles

Third round

Maria Kirilenko (RUS x14) bt Yanina Wickmayer (BEL x20) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Victoria Azarenka (BLR x1) bt Jamie Hampton (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
Serena Williams (USA x3) bt Ayumi Morita (JPN) 6-1, 6-3
Elena Vesnina (RUS) bt Roberta Vinci (ITA x16) 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4
Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x10) bt Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 6-4, 6-3
Sloane Stephens (USA x29) bt Laura Robson (GBR) 7-5, 6-3

Men's singles

Third round

Richard Gasquet (FRA x9) bt Ivan Dodig (CRO) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) bt Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG x6) 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 3-6, 6-3
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x7) bt Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4
Andreas Seppi (ITA x21) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x12) 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Andy Murray (GBR x3) bt Ricardas Berankis (LTU) 6-3, 6-4, 7-5