Serena eases into fourth round

Williams said her infatuation with the 35-year-old Academy Award nominee had begun with his leading role in 1997 blockbuster 8220;Titanic8221;.

8220;It was how he just sacrificed his life,8221; she said.

Williams,who had said she felt the same way when she met the late Michael Jackson,met Britain8217;s Prince William on Thursday when he visited Melbourne Park,but did not get as nervous.

8220;I told him that I might like his little brother better because he8217;s the little brother,and he laughed and said he might like sister Venus better because she8217;s older,8221; she said.

8220;So we just had a little joke about that.8221;

Williams,who will next meet 13th seed Samantha Stosur,said her match against the diminutive Spaniard,who beat Venus last year at Melbourne Park,had been a bit tougher than the one-sided scoreline indicated.

The final game of the first set took eight set points before she sealed it and only after she had spent a short time deep behind the baseline talking to herself.

8220;It was definitely the toughest six-love set. Especially in the end because she was really fighting for it.

8220;I didn8217;t want to lose that game8230; so I thought,8217;okay,Serena,don8217;t put too much pressure on this. Worst case scenario it will be 5-18242;.

8220;At the end of day I8217;m glad I didn8217;t lose that game.8221;