Serena moves into new look Wimbledon last-16

LONDON: Women's defending champion Serena Williams cruised effortlessly into the Wimbledon fourth round Saturday as the first week's shockwaves left just eight of the top 20 seeds still standing.

Serena Williams was ruthless taking just over an hour to carve out a 6-2, 6-0 win over Japanese 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm.

It was the 600th win of Williams's career as the American continued her gentle cruise towards a sixth Wimbledon title and 17th Grand Slam crown.

The 31-year-old American will face German 23rd seed Sabine Lisicki for a quarter-final place where victory will also give her a 35th successive win, taking her level with sister Venus's record set in 2000.

Only four of the top 10 men's seeds and four of the top 10 in the women's draw have made it to the second week after the Grand Slam heavyweights of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka had all exited by Wednesday.

Laura Robson took full advantage by becoming the first British woman to make the last 16 for 15 years when she came from a set and 3-5 down to defeat New Zealand's Marina Erakovic, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

The 19-year-old goes on to face Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, a former
quarter-finalist.

Robson, currently ranked 38 in the world, will also move into the top 30 after the tournament, the first British woman to break that barrier since Jo Durie in April, 1987. (AFP)