PHOTO: AFP
As tennis's corruption-fighting body was slammed as "opaque and secretive", Williams barged past Hsieh Su-Wei 6-1, 6-2 to reach the third round as she seeks a record-equalling 22nd major title.
Williams eased lingering concerns over the state of her injured knee as she obliterated the Taiwanese, even pulling off possibly her first ever round-the-net shot for good measure.
"It's always cool to do something fresh and new. I don't know if I have done that," said the American world number one, who showed no signs discomfort from her knee.
"I moved much better, so slowly but surely feeling a little bit better," she added.
Federer, who is trying to extend his record number of Grand Slam crowns to 18, then dismantled his 35th-ranked practice partner Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 7-5, 6-1.
The all-time Grand Slam king came unstuck in the third round last year, when he was shocked by Andreas Seppi, and he is wary of another upset with Grigor "Baby Fed" Dimitrov up next.
"It's the least I expect to be in the third round of a Slam, obviously, so I'm pumped up, playing well, feeling good," said Federer.
"But there's always a danger, you know. Like last year the third round was the end for me, so I hope to go further this time."
The straightforward wins pleased the crowd at Rod Laver Arena, where early rain gave way to bright sun as attention refocused on tennis after the match-fixing controversy overshadowed the first two days.
After an explosive report claimed some top players were suspected of being serial match-fixers, Chris Eaton, director of integrity at the International Centre of Sport Security, said corruption was commonplace in tennis's lower tiers.
"In the second and lower levels, manipulation indicators are heavy and regularly occurring," Eaton told AFP, criticising the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) which is tasked with fighting corruption.
"Integrity is by definition open and transparent. The TIU is neither... by operating in the shadows they fail to practice what they preach," he said, calling for a "new independent and integrated integrity model".
Also on court on Wednesday was five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, who had little difficulty dispatching 105th-ranked Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-1.
"It's great to be back on this court after such a good run last year," said the Russian world number five, who lost to her nemesis Williams in the 2015 final.
"It was an opponent I had never faced before which is always tricky and I'm happy I got there."
Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori beat his close friend Austin Krajicek 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 as he pressed his bid for a first Grand Slam title.
And Italy's Roberta Vinci overcame Irina Falconi to move towards a potential semi-final rematch with Williams -- who she stunned in the US Open last four, ending her bid for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam.
"Yeah, I watch it every day," deadpanned Williams, when asked if she had seen a recording of the match. "Every night to get ready."
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