Serena Williams eased into the fourth round of the Australian Open and then revealed she has thought about ending her boycott of Indian Wells.
The world number one and sister Venus have not played at the March tournament in the American desert since 2001, when they were subjected to heckling and, allegedly, racist abuse.
The crowd turned against the Americans after Venus pulled out of a scheduled semi-final clash with Serena, who was then booed during the final against Kim Clijsters.
Comfortable: Serena Williams eased through to the last 16 with a straight-sets win over Daniela Hantuchova
They have resisted all calls to put the past behind them, but Serena revealed she had considered the issue after watching the Nelson Mandela biopic Long Walk To Freedom.
She said: 'It actually crossed my mind a couple days ago, after I saw the movie. I thought about it.'
On the court, the world number one was not too troubled on another punishing hot day in Melbourne, beating Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-3.
It was Serena's 61st win in the singles main draw at the Australian Open, more than any other woman.
There were reports that the 32-year-old had declined to do a TV interview after the match because she felt dizzy, but she denied that was the case.
In the shade: Serena Williams take advantage of he shade on another hot day at Melbourne Park
Keeping cool: Serena Williams cools off with an ice pack during her match against Hantuchova
Serena said: 'I didn't feel dizzy. I had some pressing things I needed to take care of.
'I feel good to have got through that one because it was tough conditions out there, but I was happy to win.'
She had been due to play doubles as well on Friday but withdrew from the tournament because of an injury to Venus.
'I love playing doubles, love playing with Venus, but sometimes it doesn't work out,' said Serena.
'We'll make sure we come back and play, maybe next year.'
Racing through: Williams hits a backhand as she cruises to victory in one hour and 20 minutes
Teenager Eugenie Bouchard continued her run with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over America's Lauren Davis.
It is the first time the 19-year-old Canadian, the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2013, has reached the fourth round at a grand slam.
Rising star: Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard fires down an ace during her victory against Lauren Davis
Tough going: Bouchard takes the chance to cool off during her third-round match (left) but is later celebrating as she clinches victory and a place in the last 16 (right)
Ninth seed Angelique Kerber is also through after a 6-3, 6-4 win over America's Alison Riske and next meets Italian Flavia Pennetta, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over Mona Barthel.
Russian Ekaterina Makarova, a quarter-finalist the last two years, is one win away from matching that after a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Monica Niculescu.
Jubilation: Italy's Flavia Pennetta celebrates as she seals a fourth-round clash with Angelique Kerber
Makarova will next meet fourth seed Li Na, who saved a match point on her way to a battling 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over Lucie Safarova.
Li, beaten by Victoria Azarenka in the final last year, made 18 unforced errors and hit just two winners in the first set and looked in deep trouble in the second.
Czech Safarova served for the match at 5-3 and then held a match point at 6-5 but missed a backhand by a fraction.
The pair took a 10-minute break before the third set because of the extreme heat and initially that looked to have unsettled Li again but she was the stronger at the end, clinching victory after two hours and 37 minutes.
Squeezing through: Fourth seed Li Na celebrates after she saved a match point on her way to victory
The world number one and sister Venus have not played at the March tournament in the American desert since 2001, when they were subjected to heckling and, allegedly, racist abuse.
The crowd turned against the Americans after Venus pulled out of a scheduled semi-final clash with Serena, who was then booed during the final against Kim Clijsters.
Comfortable: Serena Williams eased through to the last 16 with a straight-sets win over Daniela Hantuchova
They have resisted all calls to put the past behind them, but Serena revealed she had considered the issue after watching the Nelson Mandela biopic Long Walk To Freedom.
She said: 'It actually crossed my mind a couple days ago, after I saw the movie. I thought about it.'
On the court, the world number one was not too troubled on another punishing hot day in Melbourne, beating Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-3.
It was Serena's 61st win in the singles main draw at the Australian Open, more than any other woman.
There were reports that the 32-year-old had declined to do a TV interview after the match because she felt dizzy, but she denied that was the case.
In the shade: Serena Williams take advantage of he shade on another hot day at Melbourne Park
Keeping cool: Serena Williams cools off with an ice pack during her match against Hantuchova
Serena said: 'I didn't feel dizzy. I had some pressing things I needed to take care of.
'I feel good to have got through that one because it was tough conditions out there, but I was happy to win.'
She had been due to play doubles as well on Friday but withdrew from the tournament because of an injury to Venus.
'I love playing doubles, love playing with Venus, but sometimes it doesn't work out,' said Serena.
'We'll make sure we come back and play, maybe next year.'
Racing through: Williams hits a backhand as she cruises to victory in one hour and 20 minutes
Teenager Eugenie Bouchard continued her run with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over America's Lauren Davis.
It is the first time the 19-year-old Canadian, the WTA's newcomer of the year in 2013, has reached the fourth round at a grand slam.
Rising star: Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard fires down an ace during her victory against Lauren Davis
Tough going: Bouchard takes the chance to cool off during her third-round match (left) but is later celebrating as she clinches victory and a place in the last 16 (right)
Ninth seed Angelique Kerber is also through after a 6-3, 6-4 win over America's Alison Riske and next meets Italian Flavia Pennetta, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over Mona Barthel.
Russian Ekaterina Makarova, a quarter-finalist the last two years, is one win away from matching that after a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Monica Niculescu.
Jubilation: Italy's Flavia Pennetta celebrates as she seals a fourth-round clash with Angelique Kerber
Makarova will next meet fourth seed Li Na, who saved a match point on her way to a battling 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 victory over Lucie Safarova.
Li, beaten by Victoria Azarenka in the final last year, made 18 unforced errors and hit just two winners in the first set and looked in deep trouble in the second.
Czech Safarova served for the match at 5-3 and then held a match point at 6-5 but missed a backhand by a fraction.
The pair took a 10-minute break before the third set because of the extreme heat and initially that looked to have unsettled Li again but she was the stronger at the end, clinching victory after two hours and 37 minutes.
Squeezing through: Fourth seed Li Na celebrates after she saved a match point on her way to victory
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