Jankovic breezes through

Stuttgart - Fourth-seed Jelena Jankovic needed just over an hour on Wednesday to breeze into the second-round of Stuttgart's WTA tournament with a straight sets win over Gisela Dulko.

Former world number one Jankovic is on course to meet last year's beaten finalist Dinara Safina in the quarter-finals, but first faces Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova in Thursday's second-round match.

Jankovic of Serbia blasted two aces and took the first set after just 32 minutes against the Argentinian before slowing briefly in the second, but was in firm control for a 6-2 6-2, win in 75 minutes.

"It went well for the first match, they are always tough - she is a hard opponent to play, especially on clay," said Jankovic.

"The first set went well, I started losing my concentration a bit in the second, but overall it was a good match for me in the first round."

Australia's Samantha Stosur, who is ranked tenth in the world and is seventh seed here after winning the Charleston tournament recently, also had few problems as she knocked out France's Marion Bartoli in just 65 minutes.

Stosur, who faces Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru in the second round, hit three aces in the second set and was presented with few problems by Bartoli.

Eighth-seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium also saw off Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-3 6-3 and will face either compatriot Justine Henin or Germany's Julia Goerges in the second round.

Former world number one Henin has insisted the broken finger she suffered last week will not hold her back here.

The 27-year-old right-hander broke the little finger on her left hand last week while preparing for Belgium's Fed Cup win over Estonia and expects to wear a split for the broken digit until next month's French Open.

Having returned to tennis in January, after initially retiring in May 2008, Henin qualified for the Stuttgart tournament through a wildcard.

"My finger is still a bit painful, but I wear a splint so that helps," said Henin, who has won at Roland Garros four times.

"I need to wear that for at least six weeks, until the French Open, but I feel good with it now.

"However, I need to adjust my preparations because there are certain exercises I cannot perform at the moment."

Henin last won the Stuttgart tournament in 2007 and says she needs more practise on the clay-court surface to test her finger.

"My Fed Cup match was a good test in how I could use my finger - it felt okay," said Henin, who is used to being ranked much higher in the world than her current placing of 24th.

"However I still need to get used to it and also I am not happy with my results, obviously.

"I have noticed that you really need all your ten fingers," she said with a smile.

"It feels very good to be back in Stuttgart.

"I won this tournament in 2007 and this year it is my first time indoors on clay ever.

"I love coming to German tournaments, because the organisation is perfect."

Results:

First Round

Jelena Jankovic (4), Serbia, def. Gisela Dulko, Argentina, 6-2 6-2.
Samantha Stosur (7), Australia, def. Marion Bartoli, France, 6-2 6-1.
Yanina Wickmayer (8), Belgium, def. Francesca Schiavone, Italy, 6-3 6-3.
Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, def. Selima Sfar, Tunisia, 2-6 3-0 retired.
Victoria Azarenka (6), Belarus, def. Flavia Pennetta, Italy, 6-1 6-4.

Second Round

Shahar Peer, Israel, def. Agnieszka Radwanska (5), Poland, 6-3 6-7 (4) 6-2.