Venus hits top gear

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Williams showed glimpses of her top form as she beat Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-1 7-5 in bright sunshine on Court One.

"I was very happy with my performance," said Williams, who will play Russia's Alisa Kleybanova in the last 16 on Monday. "Things got close in the second set, she was playing well and I needed to come up with something a little more and I was really happy to come up with that."

Martinez Sanchez began serving and volleying and charging the net in the second set and Williams added on BBC2: "In the second set, it was not working for her from the back of the court so it was really impressive how she changed strategy in the second set and made it very competitive."

Williams raced through the opening set in just 25 minutes, breaking serve twice and backing it up with some powerful serving which included aces clocked at 116, 119 and 120mph.

Elsewhere, fifth seed Elena Dementieva was given a real scare before booking her place in the last 16 with a 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 victory over Argentina's Gisela Dulko.

Russia's 18-year-old world number 42 Kleybanova overcame Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama in straight sets 6-4 6-4 to set up a fourth-round clash with Williams.

Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn recovered from a slow start to beat New Zealander Marina Erakovic 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Tanasugarn's reward for her victory is a match against second seed Jelena Jankovic, who beat Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki on Centre Court.

Maria Sharapova's conqueror Alla Kudryavtseva ensured her place in the last 16 with a 6-3 1-6 6-4 success against China's Shuai Peng. She will face fellow Russian Nadia Petrova in the fourth round.