Roger Federer lost his first set of the tournament but still managed to conjure a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 victory over Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber at Wimbledon on Friday.
The 27th seed was meant to provide a stern test for Federer after disposing of Novak Djokovic at the French Open last month but the gulf in class was immediate as the Swiss maestro opened up a one-set lead in just 37 minutes.
The second was in the bag 30 minutes later but the German rallied from 2-0 down in the third to take it to a tiebreak which he won with a wonderful angled backhand 7-5.
Federer, five times a champion at Wimbledon, snuffed out the rising threat by racing to a 3-0 lead in the fourth and finally booked a fourth-round berth against French Open finalist Robin Soderling of Sweden with a thunderous forehand winner.
Serena gives masterclass to Vinci
Twice former champion Serena Williams outclassed Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-4 to book her place in the fourth round.
The 27-year-old American, seeking to add another Wimbledon crown to the Australian Open she won in January, broke for a 3-1 lead in the opening set against the world number 53 and never looked back.
The second seed breezed through the opening set in 28 minutes and though Vinci had the audacity to break back with a refreshing penchant for serve and volley, Williams completed victory with a crunching ace on Court Two.
She will play either Japan's Ai Sugiyama or Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia for a place in the quarter-finals.
Classy Dementieva destroys qualifier
Olympic champion Elena Dementieva brushed aside fellow-Russian Regina Kulikova 6-1, 6-2 to book a place in the fourth round for the sixth time in her career.
The fourth seed, who looks to have one of the best quarters in the draw, broke twice in the opening set before wrapping it up in just 24 minutes before Kulikova, playing her sixth match after a tough qualifying run, improved markedly.
The world number 191 made more of a game of it in the second but Dementieva had too much in her armoury, sealing victory with a scrambled backhand down the line.
She will play Russia's Elena Vesnina or Slovakian 14th seed Dominika Cibulkova for a place in the quarter-finals.