Victoria Azarenka is eyeing off a third Australian Open title after storming into the third round with a shock straight sets win over Caroline Wozniacki.

The former world number ones squared off in a high-quality baseline duel on Thursday night with Azarenka triumphant over the eighth seed 6-4 6-2.

Two-time champion Azarenka arrived at Melbourne Park unseeded after battling foot and knee injuries and personal issues in 2014.

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But she looked right at home on Margaret Court Arena and dictated play from the outset to stun the Danish star and claim her first top 10 scalp in more than a year.

Azarenka broke Wozniacki, the 2014 US Open finalist, in the opening game of the match and used a big forehand to take the first set.

The Belarusian, who won the title in 2012 and 2013, didn’t give Wozniacki a sniff in the second to wrap up the match in one hour and 38 minutes.

It was Wozniacki’s worst Australian Open finish in eight appearances.

Serena Williams on serve. Photo: Getty

Azarenka, now ranked world No.44, will next face 25th seed Barbara Zahlavova-Strycova with a potential quarter-final showdown with Serena Williams looming.

A day after Maria Sharapova was forced to save two match points, top seed Williams steadied after a first-set scare to reach the third round.

Williams was twice broken by Vera Zvonareva in the opening set and needed to defuse three set points on Thursday, but powered to a 7-5 6-0 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

“She was aggressive and I was a little too passive,” Williams said.

Zvonareva became the world No.2 in 2010 when the Russian reached the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, only to tumble down the rankings to No.992 due to injury and illness.

Williams, who started this month with an inconsistent showing at the Hopman Cup, vowed in the lead-up to her clash with the unseeded Russian that it would be a tough test.

It was anything but niceties, with Zvonareva threatening to break Williams’ serve at 15-40 after taking a 5-3 lead in the first set.

The world No.1 smacked two powerful forehand winners to reach deuce, but was again facing set point.

Williams held, broke back twice and then dished out a bagel as she wrapped up the second set in just 27 minutes.

The 18-time grand slam champion next faces26th seed Elina Svitolina from Ukraine after she beat Nicole Gibbs 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (8-6).

And fourth seed Petra Kvitova is also into the third round, where she will meet fellow power hitter Madison Keys.

Kvitova was to strong for German Mona Barthel, winning 6-2 6-4, while Keys defeated Australian Casey Dellacqua 2-6 6-1 6-1.

Earlier on Thursday, Venus Williams and Agnieszka Radwanska both sailed into the third round in straight sets.

Sixth seed Radwanska needed only 44 minutes to dismiss Johanna Larsson 6-0 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena, setting up a clash with Varvara Lepchenko, who ousted adopted Australian Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 7-6 (7-1).

Williams was not quite as ruthless in her all-American outing against Lauren Davis, but still a comfortable 6-2 6-3 winner on Margaret Court Arena.

Williams, who is seeded 18th, recovered well after dropping her opening service game in both sets.

Williams broke her compatriot’s serve five times, charging to victory in an hour and 16 minutes as Davis bounced her racquet in anger.

The pair had only met once before – in Auckland earlier this month when Williams won their semi-final in straight sets.

The 34-year-old seven-time grand slam champion went on to defeat Wozniacki in New Zealand, suggesting she could do some damage at Melbourne Park.

Williams next faces Italy’s Camila Giorgi, who was too good for Czech Tereza Smitkova 6-1 6-4.

Meanwhile, Spanish 24th seed Garbine Muguruza downed Daniela Hantuchova 6-1 1-6 6-0.