Serena Williams eased to victory over Eugenie Bouchard to reach the third round of the Australian Open while Simona Halep survived another scare to join her.

Williams is the 16th seed but very much the title favourite, and this performance only reinforced that status as she eased to a 6-2 6-2 victory.

There were perhaps a few more errors than Williams would have liked but also 20 winners and some devastating play, particularly in taking apart the Bouchard serve.

Standing next in the 23-time grand slam champion’s way is 18-year-old Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, who upset 23rd seed Carla Suarez Navarro to reach the third round of a slam for the first time.

Having survived a first-round test against her US Open conqueror Kaia Kanepi, Halep looked to be finding things more comfortable against young American Sofia Kenin as she moved a set and 3-0 ahead.

But 20-year-old Kenin, who won her maiden WTA Tour title in Hobart last weekend, fought back to take the second set and led 4-2 in the third only for Halep to win the final four games and the match 6-3 6-7 (5) 6-4.