But she produced a much-improved display on Court One to overcome the Slovakian 7-5 6-3 and set up a possible last 16 clash with sister Serena, who plays Jill Craybas later on centre court.

Venus spoke about a new attacking approach following her defeat of Nicole Pratt on Thursday yet she seemed strangely reluctant to move forward in the early stages.

However, her serve was so dominant that rallies were few and far between.

Hantuchova, too, was holding comfortably and her backhand, in particular, was finding the lines with unerring accuracy.

It remained on serve until the 11th game when 20th-seeded Hantuchova squandered a 40-love lead and handed Williams her first break point which she converted with a winning forehand cross-court.

The American made the most of the opportunity by holding to take the first set in 47 minutes.

Williams was in the ascendancy and two further breaks gave her a 3-0 lead in the second.

Hantuchova hit back to make it 3-3 but Williams raised her game again by reeling off three consecutive games to clinch the match.