Serena Williams consoles 18-year-old opponent Dayana Yastremska seconds after sealing crushing defeat

The 23-time Grand Slam champion immediately saw Yastremska had taken the 6-2, 6-1 loss badly and told her ‘You’re gonna make it, don’t cry’

Serena Williams powered her way into the last-16 of the Australian Open with a crushing 6-2, 6-1 victory over Dayana Yastremska, but immediately displayed her compassionate side by consoling the teenage Ukranian, who was left in tears after the defeat.

The seven-times champion Williams has made light work of the women’s singles draw so far and has dropped only nine games in her first three matches.

But after dispatching the 18-year-old in straight sets, Williams found the words to comfort Yastremska, who was appearing in Melbroune for the first time.

"You're gonna make it, don't cry", Williams said, with the 37-year-old embracing the bright young prospect who is half her age.

The pair left the court to a standing ovation, and Williams used her press conference afterwards to pay tribute to her opponent.

“As she was walking towards the net, I could tell she was quite upset,” Williams said afterwards. “I kind of liked that. It shows she wasn't just there to play a good match. She was there to win. She wanted to win. That really broke my heart.

"I thought she did really amazing. She came out swinging and to be so young, she came out ready to go. When I was young I played against so many people and everyone I faced was intimidating and not easy. You just go out and swing and do the best you can."

Yastremska, who was playing in only her second Grand Slam tournament, beat Sam Stosur and Carla Suarez Navarro in her first two matches but the world No 57 found herself overpowered by the American, who remains on the search for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title that would pull her level with Margaret Court.

Serena Williams consoles a tearful Dayana Yastremska after their third-round encounter (EPA)

But Williams faces a tough ask in the fourth round as she will face world No 1 Simona Halep for a place in the quarter-finals after the Romanian saw off her sister Venus 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday.