Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic ensure that status quo is maintained on typical Thursday for the top seeds at Wimbledon

Former champions Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer were sent back home in an upset on wild Wednesday which also saw a string of players pull out of Wimbledon due to injury.

But the two players who are ranked World No1 in the world-Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic ensured that Day 4 saw none of the demons of Day 3 affecting them as they both won their matches in straight sets.

With Victoria Azarenka out due to injury and Maria Sharapova's loss, Serena now is the favourite to defend her title. The 31-year-old defeated French teenager Caroline Garcia 6-3 6-2 and will next face a woman who is 10 years older than her Kimiko Date-Krumm who became the oldest woman to reach the third round at Wimbledon.

Djokovic on the other hand beat 30-year-old American qualifier Bobby Reynolds 7-6(2) 6-3 6-1 to make the US have their worst Wimbledon in 100 years with no American man in the third round.

The 26-year-old is the favourite to proceed from his side of the draw and looks set to face Andy Murray in the final. Murray has his draw clear as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer who stood in his path to the final have both bowed out of the tournament.

Former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro won his match and may be a potential semi-final opponent for 2011 winner Djokovic.

The top players looked in the pink of form on Thursday as they blasted to the next round. However, both Williams and Djokovic will be alert to the challenge that underdogs and injury pose to their quest for another title at Wimbledon after seeing their rivals defeated by one of the two.