Charleston (South Carolina): Maria Sharapova blanked American Bethanie Mattek 6-0,6-0 in less than an hour in the second round of the Family Circle Cup.

Yesterday's performance on the green clay at Daniel Island was a long way from the 20-year-old Russian's first appearance in Charleston. In 2003, she made the field as a qualifier only to lose in the first round.

Sharapova will face Tatiana Perebiynis of the Ukraine today.

Meanwhile, top-seeded Jelena Jankovic opened her title defense by beating American qualifier Alexandra Stevenson 7-5, 6-0.

Jankovic, following her first final of the year on the hardcourts at Key Biscayne, had some trouble putting away Stevenson, who was playing in her first main draw since August 2006.

Jankovic prevailed after losing her serve twice in the first, and saved all three break points she faced in the second.

Next up for her will be Anastasia Rodionova of Russia, who beat Aravane Rezai of France 6-3,6-4.

Two Russian seeds, No. 4 Elena Dementieva and No. 9 Vera Zvonareva, cruised into the third round.

Dementieva, the runner-up on her last visit in 2005, beat American Jill Craybas 6-0,6-2,and Zvonareva downed Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-1,6-0 in 48 minutes.

No. 7 Patty Schnyder, a two-time finalist making her 12th visit to Charleston, beat Olga Govortsova of Belarus 7-6 (2), 6-0,and next meets No. 11 Agnieszka Radwanska, who outlasted Edina Gallovits of Romania 6-7 (7), 6-2,7-5.

No. 12 Katarina Srebotnik came back to beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 4-6,6-1,7-5,and plays Serena Williams in the third round.

No. 13 Victoria Azarenka topped Sun Tiantian of China 7-6 (4), 6-0,and other winners included Alize Cornet of France.

Source : PTI