Stosur, Wozniacki advance at Charleston

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (AFP) –

Caroline Wozniacki plays a forehand during the second round of the Miami Masters on March 21, 2013. Wozniacki breezed past Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-1, 6-1 at the Family Circle Cup.

Ex-champions Sam Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki cruised into the third round of the WTA Tour’s Family Circle Cup, 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.