Twice former champion Serena Williams survived a testing first set before seeing off 2006 winner Amelie Mauresmo 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.

The American struggled in the blustery conditions and committed 19 unforced errors in the first set.

However, she stepped up the power to edge the tiebreak and that all but ended Mauresmo's challenge.

Hampered by a thigh injury which has already seen her withdraw from doubles action, Mauresmo avoided a second-set whitewash by breaking at 0-5 before she succumbed.

The first set did not make pretty viewing for the subdued Centre Court crowd and there were four breaks of serve as both Williams and Mauresmo struggled to find their rhythm.

The set was settled by a tight tie-break and in the end, Williams' serving proved the difference, and the American wrapped up the breaker 7-5.

Mauresmo sealed her fate when she gifted Williams an early break in the second, and when she slid to 3-0 down, she called the trainer to attend to her left thigh injury.

Mauresmo, who had hinted at retirement earlier in the year, deflected talk about her future by saying her schedule would remain the same for now, and that she planned to be back at Wimbledon in 2009.

Williams now faces fellow American Bethanie Mattek in the fourth round after Matteck knocked out last year's finalist Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-1.