BBC SPORT | Tennis | Venus begins title defence

Wednesday's results

Top seed Venus Williams made a convincing start to her campaign for a third successive Acura Classic title in San Diego.

The world number two beat unseeded Janette Husarova of Slovakia 6-4 6-1 in 65 minutes, setting up a third round clash with 15th seeded Anne Kremer of Luxembourg.

It took me a few games to figure out how I wanted to play and what I wanted to do out there

Lindsay Davenport

But she struggled in the opening stages, dropping three of the opening four games.

"Today, I definitely felt I was going to come back and win the first set," said Williams.

"I definitely think in the second set I shouldn't let her back into it because it could have been a problem for me.

"And I really didn't want that."

The biggest surprise of the day came with the manner of Daniela Hantuchova's exit, as the Slovakian received a third time penalty at match point down against Ai Sugiyama.

Hantuchova timed out

Third seed Lindsay Davenport continued her comeback after nine months out with a knee injury by demolishing Switzerland's Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian 6-3 6-0.

Anna Kournikova
Kournikova is showing signs of a revival
"Ive never seen her play before," said Davenport.

"It took me a few games to figure out how I wanted to play and what I wanted to do out there."

The world number nine meets fellow American Chanda Rubin in round three.

Fifth seed Kim Clijsters, who is another player battling back after injury problems, saw off the much improved Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-3 6-1.

And Anna Kournikova showed further evidence of a turnaround in form with a 6-2 6-4 win over American Jennifer Hopkins.

Sixth seed Jelena Dokic made smooth progress into the fourth round against Russia's Anastasia Myskina, coming through 6-4 6-3.

Second round results:

(1) Venus Williams (USA) bt Janette Husarova (Svk) 6-4 6-1
(3) Lindsay Davenport (USA) bt Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian (Swi) 6-3 6-0
Katarina Srebotnik (Slo) bt (11) Daja Bedanova (Cze) 6-4 3-6 6-2
(13) Meghann Shaughnessy (USA) bt Meilen Tu (USA) 6-1 6-2
Conchita Martinez (Spa) bt (16) Tatiana Panova (Rus) 5-7 6-2 7-6 (7/4)
Anna Kournikova (Rus) bt Jennifer Hopkins (USA) 6-2 6-4.

Third round results:

(12) Anna Smashnova (Isr) bt (8) Elena Dementieva (Rus) 6-2 5-7 7-6 (7/2)
(6) Jelena Dokic (Yug) bt Anastasia Myskina (Rus) 6-4 6-3


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