( CNN ) -- Second seed Maria Sharapova dropped just four games on Friday as she swept aside six-time grand slam winner Venus Williams 6-1 6-3 in the third round of the Australian Open . The win continued Sharapova 's imperious recent of form . The Russian , a winner of the Melbourne event in 2008 , became the first woman to not concede a single game in her first two matches at a grand slam since 1985 . Sharapova lost to world No . 1 Victoria Azarenka in last year 's final , but she already looks well placed to go one better in 2013 ahead of a fourth round encounter with Belgium 's Kirsten Flipkens . Former world No . 1 Williams has endured a tough time since winning her most recent grand slam title in 2008 . She was forced to withdraw from the 2011 U.S. Open having been diagnosed with the auto immune disorder Sjogren 's syndrome . `` I was a really determined player out there because I knew the tennis she 's capable of producing and playing , '' Sharapova told reporters . `` Despite what she 's ranked or seeded , it does n't matter when you go out on the court . She 's been there . `` She 's experienced enough to know no matter if you 're playing the third round , the quarters or the final , you have to be ready . `` I certainly was . Since the draw came out , I was really looking forward to that match-up . '' It was a good day for the top seeds in the women 's draw , with Chinese No . 6 seed Li Na easing past Romanian No . 27 Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-1 . Li , who became Asia 's first grand slam singles champion when she triumphed at the 2011 French Open , remains on course for a semifinal meeting with Sharapova , provided she can progress from her round four match with 18th seed Julia Goerges . Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was rarely troubled as she beat British No . 1 Heather Watson 6-3 6-1 . The 2012 Wimbledon runner-up will now play former world No . 1 Ana Ivanovic , who advanced from an all-Serbian encounter with Jelena Jankovic . German Angelique Kerber ended U.S. rookie Madison Keys ' run at her first grand slam . The fifth seed progressed courtesy of a 6-2 7-5 success . In the men 's draw , top seed Novak Djokovic was made to work on his way to a 6-4 6-3 7-5 win against Czech Radek Stepanek . Next up for the defending champion is Switzerland Stanislas Wawrinka after the No . 15 got the better of American Sam Querrey . `` I was n't expecting an easy match coming into the third round and playing a seeded player , '' Djokovic told a post-match press conference , on the same day he also condemned former seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong . `` ( Stepanek ) loves the big stage . You saw how much fun he had . I also had a lot of fun playing . It was a very entertaining match . '' Djokovic 's fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic was made to work for his spot in round four . The world No . 8 came from two sets to one down to win 3-6 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-3 in a match which lasted three-and-a-half-hours . Fourth seed David Ferrer and No.5 Tomas Berdych both continued their strong starts to the tournament . Spain 's Ferrer recorded a 6-4 6-2 6-3 win over 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis , while Berdych of the Czech Republic eased to a 6-3 6-2 6-2 success against Austrian Jurgen Melzer .
Second seed Maria Sharapova storms past Venus Williams at Australian Open . No . 4 Agnieszka Radwanska advances along with Li Na and Angelique Kerber . Defending champion Novak Djokovic into round four after beating Radek Stepanek . Fourth seed David Ferrer and No . 5 Andy Murray both advance to the fourth round.