US Venus Williams returns a forehand to Russia's Alisa Kleybanova during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Tennis Club, in southwest London. Venus won 6-4, 6-2. (AFP)

LONDON (AFP) – Five-time champion Venus Williams believes she can extend her dominance at Wimbledon well into the new decade after securing a place in the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Russia's Alisa Kleybanova on Friday.

Williams has appeared in eight of the last 10 Wimbledon finals and, although she never reached her best against Kleybanova, the American second seed remains on course to add a sixth title to her collection.

Although she turned 30 just days before the start of the grass-court grand slam, there is no doubt in Venus's mind that she is fit, healthy and, most importantly, hungry enough to remain the most feared player in the women's singles' draw.

"I'm definitely getting older, but it's wonderful to come back to this event and even better to come back playing great tennis," she said.

"It's not surprising to me that I'm still at the top end of the rankings because I work really hard year in and year out.

"If I was just relaxing, then I probably would be pretty surprised if I was here.

"I'm just blessed to be healthy enough and strong enough and still talented enough to play. And people are playing longer these days.

They don't give it up too quickly anymore.

"These players I'm playing against, I definitely feel I'm holding them at bay because they come out and really play with nothing to lose."

Venus had been in typically vibrant form in the first two rounds, winning both matches for the loss of just nine games.

So when some wayward ground-strokes allowed the Russian 26th seed to secure an early break, the Court One crowd let out an audible murmur of surprise.

But Venus has too much poise and power to be subdued for long on grass by anyone except her sister Serena - the defending champion who beat Venus in last year's final.

Williams, who beat Kleybanova in the fourth round here in 2008, broke back quickly and gradually started to wind up those huge forehands that so often bludgeon opponents into submission.

Kleybanova had done well to repell the assault for this long and eventually she cracked as Venus broke again to take the set.

With the crucial first set in the bag, Venus set about delivering the final blows to Kleybanova's morale.

She refused to give the 20-year-old an easy start to the second set and was able to secure a break in the first game.

Kleybanova had plasters with smiling faces drawn on them stuck to her dress and cap, but the Russian's own expression was rather more sombre as Venus broke again at 4-2 to seal a meeting with Australia's Jarmila Groth.