Serena Williams reaches Wimbledon fourth round

Serena Williams passed her first proper test with style by beating France's Kristina Mladenovic to reach the Wimbledon fourth round.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion, on a comeback after giving birth, went a break down against the former top-10 player but won 7-5 7-6 (7-2).

While the women's seeds have been tumbling early here, Williams has advanced without dropping a set.

She faces fellow mum and world number 120 Evgeniya Rodina of Russia next.

• Venus Williams becomes eighth top-10 seed to exit

• Live scores, schedule and results

• BBC TV, radio and online coverage

Stars aligning for Serena

With eight of the top 10 women's seeds now out, the road for former world number one Williams to win an eighth Wimbledon singles title is looking ever clearer.

Not that she sees it that way.

"I think a lot of the top players are losing, but they're losing to girls that are playing outstanding," she said. "I think, if anything, it shows me every moment that I can't underestimate any of these ladies. They are just going out there swinging and playing for broke."

But then so is Williams, who has showed gradual improvement over the three matches she has played here.

In her first-round victory over Arantxa Rus, the American was laboured at times in gusty conditions, while against Viktoriya Tomova she moved around the court much better and overpowered her with her winners and improved serving.

Against Mladenovic she showed she could dig herself out of difficulty if necessary - winning four games in a row when 5-3 down to take the first set.

She carried on where she left off in the second set to go an early break up before the world number 62 broke back. The Frenchwoman went on to save a match point to force a tie-break.

But Williams found a new gear in the tie-break and sealed her 17th Wimbledon win in a row with her 13th ace.

By reaching the fourth round, Williams has matched her showing at last month's French Open, which was her first Grand Slam tournament since having her daughter last September.

The 36-year-old could have gone further there but pulled out of her last-16 match with Maria Sharapova with an injury.

"Just getting to the round of 16 twice is not bad. Hopefully I can do a little bit better," she said.

"I don't have anything to lose. I have absolutely nothing to prove. Yeah, everything is a bonus. Every time I step out there, I know what I'm capable of. I know every Grand Slam, I've won them, I'm capable of just going out there and enjoying it."

As the oldest woman left in the draw, after her 38-year-old sister Venus was knocked out on Friday, Williams is still leaving the younger players like 25-year-old Mladenovic behind.

And despite her seeding of 25, and her world ranking of 181, she is looking every bit the player to beat.