Williams progresses with 307th grand slam win

Serena Williams eased into the last 16 of the US Open with a straight-sets win over Johanna Larsson on Saturday.

The number one seed has yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows this year, and her 6-2 6-1 success on Arthur Ashe Stadium moved her one step closer to eclipsing Steffi Graf's record of 22 grand slam titles.

Williams was rarely troubled by her Swedish opponent, her powerful groundstrokes too good for the world number 47 as she rounded out victory in exactly one hour.

The six-time champion racked up four breaks of serve to move level with Roger Federer on 307 grand slam wins – taking her past Martina Navratilova in the process.

Saturday's opening set only lasted 37 minutes as Williams produced 13 winners, her forehand a particularly useful weapon in finding a way past Larsson.

Williams did have to face her first break point of the tournament but, unsurprisingly, she dealt with it superbly - a trademark serve followed by a thumping backhand crushing any hope Larsson had.

If the first set was routine, the second was a procession as Williams upped the tempo, not giving Larsson a chance to settle as she rattled off five games in a row to progress to a fourth-round clash with Yaroslava Shvedova.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWNWilliams [1] bt Larsson 6-2 6-1

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORSWilliams – 24/17Larsson – 5/11

ACESWilliams – 6Larsson – 0

BREAK POINTS WONWilliams – 4/6Larsson – 0/1

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGEWilliams – 60Larsson – 56

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVEWilliams – 82/68Larsson – 58/32

TOTAL POINTSWilliams – 59Larsson – 31