Serena Williams marches into quarter-finals

Serena Williams marched into the quarter-finals of the French Open for the fourth conseive year on Sunday, easing past Japan's Shinobu Asagoe 6-3 6-1.

Former world number one Serena Williams marched into the quarter-finals of the French Open for the fourth conseive year on Sunday, easing past Japan's Shinobu Asagoe 6-3 6-1.

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The second seed, beaten by eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semi-finals last year, hammered 24 winners as she wrapped up victory in just 55 minutes.

Williams dropped her serve in the opening game of the match as the world number 52 Asagoe took an early 2-0 lead, but the American hit back to take the first set in 28 minutes.

Her confidence lifted, Williams breezed through the second set to set up a meeting against either fellow American and seventh seed Jennifer Capriati or 17th seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy.