Top seeds Dinara Safina of Russia and American Serena Williams posted straight-set victories Sunday in the first-round of the China Open in Beijing. Safina, the No.

Jelena Jankovic ended a four-match losing streak to Marion Bartoli with a win that put her into the semifinals of the $2 million Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Jankovic, seeded seventh, hadn't beaten Bartoli since the 2007 French Open and had fallen to 3-5 lifetime against the French player.

Maria Sharapova rallied for a third-round win Wednesday at the $2 million Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo. Sharapova, unseeded at the hard-court tournament as she continues her comeback from shoulder surgery, defeated Alisa Kleybanova 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.

No. 3-seeded Elena Dementieva was defeated Tuesday at Tokyo's $2 million Pan Pacific Open, which has lost its top six seeds in second-round play. Top seeds Dinara Safina and Venus Williams were among upset victims in Monday's play while Dementieva, No.

Second-seeded Serena Williams and No. 3 Venus Williams pulled off victories in straight sets Wednesday to reach the third round of the U.S. Open. Serena Williams needed just 53 minutes to dispose of Melinda Czink in an evening match.