Serena Williams booked her place in the quarter-finals of the $1.244 million Masters Series tournament here Thursday, thrashing Denisa Chladkova 6-1, 6-2.
The 20-year-old Williams wasted no time in taking charge of the match which she wrapped up in just about an hour with her next opponent the victor of the clash between defending champion Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia and unseeded Russian Anastasia Myskina.
Chladkova, who had dispatched four-times Rome champion Conchita Martinez of Spain on Wednesday, looked jaded against the American whose powerful hitting had the Czech player chasing shadows.

"I'm definitely a little bit pleased," said Serena. "My serve was better today - each day it's getting better so I'm happy about that."

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Serena also revealed that sister Venus, who withdrew from this tournament Tuesday night with a mystery wrist injury just half an hour before her scheduled game with Anna Kournikova of Russia, was not likely to miss the French Open.

"I don't think she (Venus) is going to miss the French Open," said Serena who has temporarily also lost her practice partner. "She's seeing some different doctors - I hope she's doing well. I miss hitting with Venus."

Serena was quickly joined by fifth-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium who dispatched Anne Kremer of Luxemburg 6-2, 6-4 in her last 16 encounter.

Wimbledon finalist Henin is in fine form having beaten Serena in the final of the Berlin Open last Sunday and will play the victor of the match between Kournikova and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain.

Meanwhile, the WTA announced that Venus was due to see an orthopaedist on the mystery injury that caused her to pull out of the event in Rome. Bureau Report