Top seed Serena Williams showed she was in no mood to hang around in the scorching Melbourne heat after racing into the third round of the Australian Open.
With the temperature touching 40C, 17-time grand slam champion Williams brushed aside the challenge of world number 104 Vesna Dolonc with minimal fuss.
Russian-born Serbian Dolonc did excite the crowd on occasion, but those moments were too infrequent and Williams wasted little time in sealing a 6-1, 6-2 win in 63 minutes.
All too easy: World No 1 Serena Williams eased through to the third round in just 63 minutes
She quickly took a 3-0 lead in the opening set after clinically breaking Dolonc in the second game when the 24-year-old hit a backhand long.
It was clear that Williams had no intention of hanging around in the searing heat as she continued to attack her opponent's serve, but a rash of errors saw the American squander two more break points and allowed Dolonc to get on the scoreboard.
That was as good as it got for the underdog, though, who gave up another break of serve before Williams, despite struggling while serving into the sun, wrapped up the first set at the second attempt after just under half an hour.
In control: Williams cruised to victory against Serbian world No 104 Vesna Dolonc on the Rod Laver Arena
Dolonc, who beat Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena in the first round, was immediately broken at the start of the second set and conceded another break of serve in the fifth game after three consecutive double faults.
Williams almost surrendered her serve but saved the only break point she faced with an ace before going on to seal victory and set up a clash with 31st seed Daniela Hantuchova, who came through a three hour and 12 minute battle against Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 3-6, 12-10.
Across the net: Williams shakes hands with her opponent Dolonc after sealing the second-round win
Li Na completed back-to-back wins over the two youngest players in the draw to reach the third round.
The 2011 French Open champion, a two-time finalist at Melbourne Park, raced through the first set against 16-year-old Belinda Bencic in 22 minutes, conceding just 10 points. She had to work harder in the second before winning 6-0, 7-6(5).
She'll next meet the No 26 seed Lucie Safarova, who beat Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0.
Respect: Li Na (left) shakes hands with Belinda Bencic after the 16-year-old ran her close
Monica Niculescu upset the No 15 seed and last year's Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 and will next play No. 22 Ekaterina Makarova, who followed up her first-round win over Venus Williams with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over American Irina Falconi.
Mona Barthel had a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum, who upset 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the first round.
Australian wild card Casey Dellacqua, ranked No 120, upset the No 18 seed Kirsten Flipkens 6-3, 6-0.
Heading home: Sabine Lisicki leaves the Margaret Court Arena after her defeat by Monica Niculescu
Home hope: Aussie Casey Dellacqua waves to the crowd after upsetting the No 18 seed Kirsten Flipkens
With the temperature touching 40C, 17-time grand slam champion Williams brushed aside the challenge of world number 104 Vesna Dolonc with minimal fuss.
Russian-born Serbian Dolonc did excite the crowd on occasion, but those moments were too infrequent and Williams wasted little time in sealing a 6-1, 6-2 win in 63 minutes.
All too easy: World No 1 Serena Williams eased through to the third round in just 63 minutes
She quickly took a 3-0 lead in the opening set after clinically breaking Dolonc in the second game when the 24-year-old hit a backhand long.
It was clear that Williams had no intention of hanging around in the searing heat as she continued to attack her opponent's serve, but a rash of errors saw the American squander two more break points and allowed Dolonc to get on the scoreboard.
That was as good as it got for the underdog, though, who gave up another break of serve before Williams, despite struggling while serving into the sun, wrapped up the first set at the second attempt after just under half an hour.
In control: Williams cruised to victory against Serbian world No 104 Vesna Dolonc on the Rod Laver Arena
Dolonc, who beat Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena in the first round, was immediately broken at the start of the second set and conceded another break of serve in the fifth game after three consecutive double faults.
Williams almost surrendered her serve but saved the only break point she faced with an ace before going on to seal victory and set up a clash with 31st seed Daniela Hantuchova, who came through a three hour and 12 minute battle against Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 3-6, 12-10.
Across the net: Williams shakes hands with her opponent Dolonc after sealing the second-round win
Li Na completed back-to-back wins over the two youngest players in the draw to reach the third round.
The 2011 French Open champion, a two-time finalist at Melbourne Park, raced through the first set against 16-year-old Belinda Bencic in 22 minutes, conceding just 10 points. She had to work harder in the second before winning 6-0, 7-6(5).
She'll next meet the No 26 seed Lucie Safarova, who beat Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0.
Respect: Li Na (left) shakes hands with Belinda Bencic after the 16-year-old ran her close
Monica Niculescu upset the No 15 seed and last year's Wimbledon runner-up Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 and will next play No. 22 Ekaterina Makarova, who followed up her first-round win over Venus Williams with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over American Irina Falconi.
Mona Barthel had a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum, who upset 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the first round.
Australian wild card Casey Dellacqua, ranked No 120, upset the No 18 seed Kirsten Flipkens 6-3, 6-0.
Heading home: Sabine Lisicki leaves the Margaret Court Arena after her defeat by Monica Niculescu
Home hope: Aussie Casey Dellacqua waves to the crowd after upsetting the No 18 seed Kirsten Flipkens
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