Australian Open: Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams soar into Round Four

Novak Djokovic returns to Italy's Andreas Seppi during their Australian Open third round tie in Melbourne yesterday and Serena Williams returns to Russia's Daria Kasatkina in an Australian Open third round match in Melbourne yesterday

Melbourne: Novak Djokovic underlined his supremacy in men's tennis on Friday as he marched unstoppably into the Australian Open fourth round along with Serena Williams, who raced through in just 44 minutes.

Novak Djokovic returns to Italy's Andreas Seppi during their Australian Open third round tie in Melbourne yesterday and Serena Williams returns to Russia's Daria Kasatkina in an Australian Open third round match in Melbourne yesterday. Pics/AFP

Djokovic looked like the man to beat as he weathered a strong challenge from Andreas Seppi to reach the first weekend without dropping a set.

The top seed and defending champion saved two third-set points against Seppi before reeling off the next four points to clinch it 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), his 33rd straight victory over Italian opposition.

Djokovic later said that the more he wins, the more the pressure on his increases.

"It's true that the more you win, the higher expectations are from yourself and from others. It's almost like after the 2015 season that I've had anything aside from a title or a final, is not a success," said Djokovic, who could pick up the first ever men's Golden Slam this year if he wins all four majors and the Olympic gold at Rio in August.

World No 1 Williams meanwhile, easily stormed into the fourth round with after beating Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-1. Williams, the top seed and title holder, will face another Russian player Margarita Gasparyan, who defeated Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4 in 91 minutes. Williams is aiming to win her seventh Australian Open here, having previously won in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2015.