SERENA WILLIAMS breezed into the US Open 4th round with an emphatic 75-minute thrashing of Czech Karolina Muchova on Friday (August 30).
The American veteran wrapped up a routine 6-3 6-2 victory, much to the delight of the jam-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The six-time US Open champion was given a testing time by 17-year-old compatriot Caty McNally in the previous round, but this time Williams was quick off the blocks to take command against a player who has yet to crack the world's top 40.
However, Muchova had stunned Spain's ex-world no.1 Garbine Muguruza at New York's Flushing Meadows last season, and in July included the scalp of former world no.1 and compatriot Karolina Pliskova en route to the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
A cagey start saw the Muchova serve broken in the seventh game, but the turning point in the clash came when Williams battled back from 40-15 to hold the next game for a 5-3 lead.
Williams sealed the set with a thumping forehand return, and with her confidence rocketing she continued her impressive run of power play to reel off seven games on the bounce.
Muchova excited the crowd when she halted her opponent and reignited the contest trailing 3-2 after winning two successive games. She comfortably held serve and then broke Williams, who gifted the 23-year-old the game by slicing her backhand volley into the net.
Muchova's suspect serve was broken once more, the Czech volleying her running backhand into the net to lose the game that had the crowd groan in sheer disappointment as they clearly wanted to see a fight.
The 23-time major champion made no mistake to kill off the Czech's challenge, registering a pretty routine win after Muchova overhit her forehand shot.
The performance from Williams was so different from the opening two sets against teenager McNally. On this latest display she seems to have found her groove perfectly in time to chase that seemingly elusive record-equalling 24th major Singles, having lost her past three Grand Slam finals.