Merciless Serena books quarter-final spot

American second seed Serena Williams blazed into the French Open quarter-finals after overwhelming Canadian 24th seed Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 6-2 in a one-sided 53-minute match here on Monday.

Williams, the 2002 champion, will meet Russian seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who put out Polish number 12 seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 for a place in the last four.

"When you want to win really badly and it's your first time on Court Philippe Chatrier, emotions get involved," said a shell-shocked Wozniak.

"You get tight and you can't play your game and it's tough."

Wozniak, 21, was making her first ever fourth-round appearance at a Grand Slam and she was broken in her first service game when Williams set up three break points with a pinpoint crosscourt forehand before bludgeoning a backhand winner down the line.

Williams, bidding for her 11th Grand Slam singles title and third in a row, moved her opponent around the court with embarrassing ease, encountering little resistance as she broke again before wrapping up the first set with a full-bodied smash.

Wozniak's efforts to force her way back into the match earned her applause from an encouraging French crowd and she threatened an unlikely comeback by breaking back at 4-1 down in the second set.

The Canadian's feathery serve, though, was a constant source of frustration to her and Williams took full advantage, breaking three times as she cruised into her sixth French Open quarter-final.