Serena and Davenport breeze into last 16

Serena Williams remained on course to become the first woman to win three straight major titles since Steffi Graf in 1996 by crushing Nathalie Dechy in her third round tie at the US Open.

Williams won 6-1 6-1 and will now play Daja Bedanova, seeded 20, for a place in the quarter-finals.

Fourth seed Lindsay Davenport reached the last 16 for the seventh straight year by beating 17-year-old French qualifier Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-1.

Playing her first major since right knee surgery in January, the 1998 champion fired 11 aces among 37 winners - 34 more than Bartoli.

Davenport will now play number 13 seed Sivia Farina.