Serena Williams advanced to the fourth round of Wimbledon with a victory over Milagros Sequera which was embarrassing in its simplicity.
The American, a two-time champion at SW19, triumphed 6-1 6-0 in just 43 minutes on Centre Court.
She may have been a resounding winner but it was still difficult to assess Williams' performance as her Venezuelan opponent was poor in the extreme.
Even the victor, not normally one for talking down victories, refused to get carried away.
She said: ‘I was at about a six or a seven (out of 10) today.
‘Just a steady pace. Peaking at the right times, playing the big points well.
‘It was going to be down to me to win or lose the match. That's I think what it boiled down to.’
Williams is happy with her progress so far after playing three matches without dropping a set.
She added: ‘You know what, I'm playing really well.
‘I'm feeling really good. I'm feeling really positive. I'm feeling like I'm going to get there.’
She was never in any danger of not getting to the second week after dominating Sequera from the off.
Williams broke in the opening game and then again in the third to establish a 3-0 lead.
Sequera finally got on the board - earning a sympathetic round of applause from the crowd in the process - to make it 4-1.
But it mattered little as Williams held and then broke again to take the opening set.
The second was even more one-sided.
Sequera proved she could play on grass by beating Australian Sam Stosur in the previous round but she froze on the big occasion against Williams.
The 26-year-old South American, who wore sunglasses throughout, quickly found herself 4-0 down after dropping her first two service games.
And there was to be no let-up the rest of the way either as Williams displayed a ruthless side to her game to wrap up the win in double-quick time.
Her next match, against 10th seed Daniela Hantuchova, should be an awful lot tougher.
She said: ‘I've played her a lot. I think she's beaten me once in a grand slam.
‘I know it's definitely going to be a tough match. It's going to be interesting. She's serving well, moving well. She's really fit.
‘But I'm serving well, moving well, and I'm really fit. It's going to be exciting.’
Williams will go into the match approaching full fitness after revealing a troublesome hamstring injury had all but cleared up.
She said: ‘My hamstring is a lot better, which I'm really excited about. It's the first time it's felt this good. So it's all coming together.
‘It's definitely a mental relief knowing I don't have the pain I had before. I'm running better now, moving better, just seeing the ball better.’
