MELBOURNE, Australia -- Venus and Serena Williams teamed up on Sunday to dispatch one of the biggest names in tennis from the Australian Open when they ousted Martina Navratilova and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The top-seeded sisters beat Navratilova and her 17-year-old Russian partner 6-2, 6-3 before paying tribute to the 46-year-old.

"She's such a legend," Venus said. "We feel honored to play against her. Martina is a great champion and it is an honor to be on the same court."

Serena added: "It is a shame both of us couldn't have won and gone on."

During a glittering career Navratilova won 18 Grand Slam singles titles -- more than twice as many as the Williams sisters put together -- and 31 doubles titles.

Her extraordinary haul also includes 167 WTA Tour singles titles. Earlier this month she won her 167th doubles title.

Afterward Navratilova acknowledged the power of the American sisters.

"You don't get many hits on the ball," she said. "They don't cross that much but they just hit the ball so hard, put so much pressure on you right away.

"But they think out there ... they mix it up, just keep on coming at you."