Big guns go through

Henin cruised to a 6-2 6-3 victory over Italy's Mara Santangelo, while Williams saw off Michaella Krajicek6-3 6-4.

World number one Henin, chasing a fourth title here in five years, was never in trouble in her third-round match against the 31st-ranked Santangelo.

Both players looked clumsy at first and had traded early breaks when Henin managed the telling one in the sixth game.

Two games later Henin captured her opponent's serve again, wrapping up the set with a backhand pass after 36 minutes.

The Belgian broke the 25-year-old Santangelo straight away in the second set. The Italian broke back but her resistance soon faded as she dropped three games in a row.

With the Centre Court crowd chanting "Happy birthday", Henin sealed victory when her opponent fired a forehand long on the first match point.

Henin is bidding to become the first woman since Monica Seles in 1992, and only the second in the professional era, to win the title in three successive years.

Meanwhile, Williams kept alive American interest at the French Open with a speedy win over Dutch teenager Krajicek.

Eighth seed Williams, the sole U.S. survivor in either singles draw after elder sister Venus was beaten earlier in the day, wore down Krajicek with an array of powerful baseline shots.

Krajicek, who had said she idolised the American when she was growing up, appeared to be star-struck in the initial stages of the contest as she quickly fell behind 3-0.

The 18-year-old rallied to level at 3-3 but then crumbled under pressure and hit a service return long to bow out after 76 minutes.

Australian Open champion Serena will next face 10th seed Dinara Safina or Italy's Francesca Schiavone.

REUTERS