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Stosur advances at Charleston

Charleston - Ex-champions Sam Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki cruised into the third round of the WTA Tour's Family Circle Cup Wednesday, while Venus Williams had to battle her way through.

The second-seeded Wozniacki breezed past Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-1, 6-1 just under an hour, while the third-seeded Aussie Stosur routed New Zealand's Marina Erakovic 6-1, 6-2 on the green clay at Daniel Island Tennis Center.

Wozniacki, who won here two years ago, only entered the tournament on the weekend, after she and golfer boyfriend Rory McIlroy postponed a trip to Haiti.

Stosur won here in 2010, while Wozniacki claimed the title in 2011.

"I felt like I really served well and returned well today," Wozniacki said. "Playing your first match of the year on clay, it's always going to be difficult to slide and move unbelievably, but I felt like I did a pretty good job of that out there and I'm pleased with my work."

Stosur was playing her first match since withdrawing prior to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells in March with a calf injury.

"But as the match went on I felt really good and the way I was playing all came together," Stosur said. "And of course, I really enjoy playing on this court, so I always try to do my best every time I'm out there."

Williams, the fifth seed who won the title here in 2004, had to work harder to get past 19-year-old Puerto Rican Monica Puig.

Puig pushed the seven-time Grand Slam winner to three sets, Williams-advancing 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

Yet another former champion was taken to the limit as seventh-seeded Jelena Jankovic, the winner here in 2007, rallied to beat French qualifier Caroline Garcia 5-7, 7-6 (12-10), 6-3.

American qualifier Mallory Burdette surprised 15th-seeded 2009 champion Sabine Lisicki 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 in their second-round match.

Burdette booked a third-round clash with world No. 1 and reigning Charleston champ Serena Williams.

Results on Wednesday from the third day of the $795,000 WTA Family Circle Cup:

2nd rd

Madison Keys (USA) bt Grace Min (USA) 6-4, 6-3

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) bt Laura Robson (GBR x16) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

Julia Goerges (GER x10) bt Olga Govortsova (BLR) 6-2, 0-6, 6-3

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x2) bt Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 6-1, 6-1

Mallory Burdette (USA) bt Sabine Lisicki (GER x15) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5

Samantha Stosur (AUS x3) bt Marina Erakovic (NZL) 6-1, 6-2

Andrea Petkovic (GER) bt Vania King (USA) 7-5, 6-4

Lucie Safarova (CZE x6) bt Mirjana Lucic (CRO) 7-5, 6-1

Jelena Jankovic (SRB x9) bt Caroline Garcia (FRA) 5-7, 7-6 (12-10), 6-3

Venus Williams (USA x5) bt Monica Puig (PUR) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3

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