MELBOURNE: World number one Serena Williams took time to wake up before sizzling into the Australian Open fourth round on Saturday, joining resurgent sister Venus and the dangerous Agnieszka Radwanska.
The American top seed, vying for a sixth Australian title and the first since 2010, was slow to get in the groove against 26th ranked Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, going down 6-4 in the first set.
But she shook off the cobwebs under the blazing sun on Rod Laver Arena to rattle through the next two sets 6-2, 6-0.
It keeps alive her quest to add a 19th Grand Slam title, which would take her to clear second on the all-time Open Era Grand Slam winners list.
She currently has 18 alongside Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and is four behind German great Steffi Graf's 22.
"When in doubt just start running as fast as you can, that's what Venus always told me, that helped," said Williams, whose world number one ranking is on the line if she fails to win the tournament.
She added that her sister's late-career renaissance was an inspiration.
"She's winning, she's doing so well and I can do better. We always motivate each other. I'm so proud of her and we're so excited."
Fellow world number one Novak Djokovic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka play later Saturday, with the Serb's chances of a fifth Australian crown improving after Roger Federer's shock exit on Friday.
Women's fourth seed Petra Kvitova, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka and men's fifth seed Kei Nishikori are also in action, while eighth seeded Canadian Milos Raonic swept aside Germany's Benjamin Becker in straight sets.
It was a day to remember for the Williams clan with Venus making the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time since Wimbledon 2011.
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