Serena through to quarters in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI: Top seed Serena Williams stayed the course at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters on Thursday, pounding out a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Mona Barthel.

The American beat her 32nd-ranked German in dominating style in a night game to reach the quarter-finals of the hardcourt tournament.

Williams is playing the event for the fifth time, with her best showing to date being a semi-final berth in 2006. (AFP)