The American looks well-placed to win an 18th grand slam crown, and sixth at Flushing Meadows, if her latest victory is anything to go by.
The top seed, who has won the last two US Open titles, was on court for just 59 minutes and hit 24 winners to set up a final clash with Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki.
Wozniacki – who has never won a grand slam – reached the final after China's Peng Shuai retired during their semi-final. The former world number one led 7-6 (7-1) 4-3 before Peng withdrew due to a heat-related illness.
The conditions did not bother Williams, though, who claimed her first break of the match at the second opportunity to go 3-1 ahead.
Williams was pushed all the way in her hold in the very next game, before another break set up an easy first-set win.
Makarova's chances of coming back into the contest were dashed when she was broken to 15 in the very first game of the second set.
Another break followed as Williams stormed into a 4-0 lead and, although Makarova slightly rallied, including a break of her own, it mattered little.
And Williams' victory was complete when Makarova hit a forehand wide, her 16th unforced error of the contest.
Williams has won seven of her eight completed matches against Wozniacki, with their last meeting coming in the semi-finals at this year's Cincinnati Masters.
The 32-year-old came from behind to win that 2-6 6-2 6-4 while their other clash this year, also won by Williams, also went to a third set.
Wozniacki's only win against Williams came in 2012 in the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters.