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All class ... Sharapova hasn't dropped a game so far at this year's Open. Source: Julian Smith / AAP
Venus Williams set up a glamour Australian Open third round showdown with in-form fellow former world No.1 Maria Sharapova by outclassing Frenchwoman Alize Cornet at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night.
The statuesque American beat Cornet 6-3 6-3 to book a date on Friday with the Russian second seed.
Australian Open: Ladies Singles
Round 2, 16/01/13
The pair have 11 grand slam singles trophies between them, Williams seven and Sharapova four, including the 2008 Australian Open title.
Sharapova's form over the first two rounds has been faultless, not dropping a game in either of her matches.
Williams, the 25th seed, wasn't quite as convincing against Cornet.
She lost the first two games of the match and went down a break of serve early in the second set, but both times Williams responded well and showed she still packs an enormous punch at her best, winning six of the last seven games of the first set and the last four of the match.
Australian Open: Ladies Singles
Round 2, 16/01/13
Asked about her prospects against Sharapova, Williams said: "I better bring my best game against her."
Sharapova holds a 4-3 head-to-head career advantage but the American has won their only two grand slam meetings in straight sets, at Wimbledon in 2005 and 2007, going on to win the championship both times.
Sharapova said the illustrious records of herself and Williams wouldn't mean much when they took to the court.
"I hope for it to be a great match. You certainly know what she's capable of," Sharapova said.
For a full list of Australian Open scores and results, click here.
"But when you're out on the court, you're not thinking about how many titles she's won or how experienced she is. You're thinking about what you need to do to step it up in a certain situation and win as many points as you can."
Earlier, Polish world No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska moved into the third round of the Australian Open and already has the finals in her sights.
Australian Open: Ladies Singles
Round 2, 16/01/13
Radwanska reached her first grand slam final at Wimbledon last year when she went down to Serena Williams, and is chasing more time in the major spotlight.
However she may not get the opportunity to play Williams at Melbourne Park after doubt increased over the American's fitness.
Williams rolled an ankle during her first round win over Romanian Edina Gallovits-Hall and on Wednesday switched her practice session to train indoors in private.
Radwanska, meanwhile, was forced to fight back in both sets on Wednesday before moving through her second round clash with Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu.
She was happy after her 6-3 6-3 win, even though she had to rebound in both sets.
Radwanska believes if she can last long enough to meet the top players in big tournaments consistently, she will soon be joining them.
"Playing against one or two in a grand slam is always the biggest challenge so hopefully I will have the opportunity this time and be in the sem-finals here," she said.
Australian Open: Ladies Singles
Round 2, 16/01/13
Her sizzling start to the year has given her a massive lift in confidence and left the pacesetters looking over their shoulders.
"I'm definitely happy that I can play my best tennis at the beginning of the year because it's always tough after a few weeks off.
"I didn't really expect that I could win that many matches in a row - and hopefully I can keep going," she said.
Popular Chinese star Li Na scored a straight sets win en route to the third round, the sixth seed - a finalist at Melbourne Park in 2011 - beat Belarusian Olga Govortsova 6-2 7-5.
Australian Open: Ladies Singles
Round 2, 16/01/13
But 15th seed Dominika Cibulkova was not so fortunate, exiting after a shock loss to a qualifier.
The Czech went down in straight sets in the second round - losing 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to little known Russian Valeria Savinykh.
Fifth seed Angelique Kerber also moved easily into the third round, disposing of Czech Lucie Hradecka in straight sets, the German winning 6-3 6-1.
She will play the winner of the clash between American Madison Keys and 30th-seeded Austrian Tamira Paszek for a fourth-round berth.
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