Five-time champion Serena Williams has joined 2008 winner Maria Sharapova, Russian seventh seed Vera Zvonareva and Serbian 21st seed Ana Ivanovic in the third round of the Australian Open.
But there have also been two more casualties, with Estonian No.25 seed Kaia Kanepi and 29th-seeded Russian Nadia Petrova both crashing out.
Williams, who won the title at Melbourne Park in 2003, '05, '07, '09 and 2010, seemed headed for a quick kill when she took the first set in only 22 minutes against Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
The American No.12 seed broke for a fourth time to lead 3-1 lead in the second and after being unable to close out the match when she served for it in the ninth game, a fifth service break in the 10th game sealed the 6-0 6-4 win.
Williams will next meet with Slovakian 17th seed Dominika Cibulkova or Hungarian Greta Arn.
A triple Grand Slam winner, having broken through at Wimbledon in 2004 before adding the US Open to her haul in 2006, Sharapova has started her campaign in a ruthless mood, conceding just two games in as many matches.
The 24-year-old repeated her effort from Tuesday, winning the opening set to love against American Julie Hampton at Rod Laver Arena and then giving up only one game in the second set as she progressed 6-0 6-1 in 64 minutes.
The No.4 seed, who hasn't been beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park since her triumph, will now be doing her homework on Angelique Kerber after the 30th-seeded German ousted Frenchwoman Stephanie Dubois 7-5 6-1.
Zvonareva, who has been to the semi-finals twice in the past three Australian Opens, looked set to win in a similar time to Sharapova and Ivanovic when she won the first set against Czech Lucie Hradecka in only 32 minutes.
But having saved the first seven break points she faced across the two sets she failed to do so in the eighth game of the second set as Hradecka battled hard, only for Zvonareva to hit back immediately and then race away with the tie-breaker to seal a 6-1 7-6 (7-3) win.
Next up she'll face compatriot Ekaterina Makarova, who committed no unforced errors as she rolled Kanepi 6-2 7-5 in a match that featured just two winners each, Makarova's ability to take her chances with seven breaks to four the major difference.
Ivanovic, who was beaten in the decider four years ago by Sharapova before claiming her maiden major title just months later at Roland Garros, completed her easy 6-2 6-3 victory over Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek just seconds before Sharapova at Hisense Arena.
Apart from 2008, Ivanovic has had a largely forgettable experience in her seven previous visits to Melbourne with three other third-round exits, but on current form she will fancy her chances of another strong run.
Next up she will face either Russian No.15 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or American Vania King although world No.2 and reigning Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova could be standing in her way in the fourth round if both get that far.
There are now two Italian women through to the third round after Sara Errani shocked Petrova 6-2 6-2 in 95 minutes at Show Court 2.
Set to play either Sam Stosur's conqueror Sorana Cirstea or Poland's Urszula Radwanska next, Errani joined Romina Oprandi in the round of 32 following Oprandi's surprise win over their countrywoman Francesca Schiavone on Wednesday.