INDIAN WELLS – Former champions Jelena Jankovic and Kim Clijsters cruised into the third round by posting straight-set victories Friday at the WTA and ATP Masters 1000 event. World No 2 Clijsters, who won in 2005 and 2003, swept past Russian Alla Kudryavtseva with a dominating 6-2, 6-0 victory in the second round of the hardcourt tournament. Defending champion Jankovic also showed plenty of firepower, crushing Coco Vandeweghe of the United States in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.
There were three former women’s champions in action Friday, including Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic who defeated Japan’s Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-4, 6-2 in Friday’s evening session. Ivanovic won here three years ago. The women’s draw also includes world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark who lost in the final last year to Jankovic 6-2, 6-4. Second seed Clijsters needed just 52 minutes to beat Kudryavtseva and advance to play Sara Errani.
Italy’s Errani defeated Jarmila Groth 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. Belgium’s Clijsters clinched her match when the Russian’s forehand return sailed wide left. She hit three aces, won six of nine break-point chances and won 65 percent of the total points against Kudryavtseva. Clijsters won the second set in a blistering 21 minutes.
Jankovic began her title defence in equally dominating fashion, hitting four aces and winning 80 percent (20 of 25) first-serve points.
