Serena Williams continued her relentless run in the Australian Open with a 6-2 6-0 victory over Maria Kirilenko this morning.

Williams looked to dominate the baseline exchange from the first point and secured an early break to take charge in the opening set.

Kirilenko kept fighting but a second break of serve secured the first set for Serena inside 30 minutes.

The five-time winner in Melbourne was in complete control early in the second set, breaking at the first time of asking thanks to a series of punishing forehand winners.

Kirilenko tried to to respond but had no answer for a fierce attack from Williams, who raced into a 5-0 lead with her fourth break of the match.

The 31-year-old rounded off a ruthless win in under an hour to set up a quarter-final clash with American teenager Sloane Stephens on Wednesday.