Serena, Nole advance: The top seeds posted contrasting victories on a day when rain eluded Roland Garros in the morning

The world No. 1 rarely sparkled on a damp, dank Centre Court at Roland Garros, but always wielded enough firepower to see off the Ukrainian 18th seed in a match that was delayed by two days due to the fickle Parisian weather. 

Empty green seats outnumbered raincoat-clad fans by around five to one on the showcourt, and the heavy, slow balls meant there was little artistry to entice greater numbers. 

Although spluttering from time to time – Williams fired the odd serve alarmingly long, and hit the occasional simple groundstroke into the net – the No1 seed always did enough to neuter her scurrying opponent. 

The American defending champion will play Yulia Putintzeva for a spot in the semi-finals.

Novak Djokovic recovered from a mediocre start to reach the quarter-finals with a 3-6 6-4 6-1 7-5 rain-delayed victory against plucky Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

Later, Timea Bacsinszky registered a straight-sets triumph over Venus Williams to reach the quarter-finals. The eighth seed made a surprise appearance in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year but she has proven it was no fluke with an impressive 6-2 6-4 win over Williams. 

Bacsinzsky will now face Kiki Bertens after the Belgian continued her hot streak on the clay with victory over Madison Keys. 

Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens reached her first grand slam quarter-final when she outpaced American 15th seed Madison Keys 7-6(4) 6-3 on Wednesday. World number 58 Bertens often had the extra shot against Keys, setting up a meeting with Swiss eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky for a place in the last four.