Serena joins Venus in next round

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The American was a convincing 6-2 6-0 winner over Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual in 57 minutes on Philippe Chatrier court with a display that was a far cry from the one she produced in round one against Klara Zakopalova, ranked 100 in the world.

On that occasion, Williams recovered from going 2-1 down in the deciding set and needed nine match points to eventually take victory. Ruano Pascual, ranked 133rd, was much more forthcoming, Williams breaking twice in the first set and three times in the second to clinch a third-round meeting with Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

Williams' elder sister, Venus, was made to work much harder earlier in the day to claim her place in round three at the expense of Lucie Safarova.

Resuming on Thursday afternoon a set down from Wednesday night, Venus comfortably took the second set but was in real danger in the third against the unseeded Czech when serving to stay in the match at 4-5.

A backhand winner saved her skin on match point and she went on to complete a 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 7-5 victory on Suzanne Lenglen court after two hours and 30 minutes of action. The American will next play Hungary's Agnes Szavay, the 29th seed.

Earlier, title contenders Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova eased into round three with straight-sets wins. Fifth seed Jankovic, semi-finalist here for the past two years, thrashed Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1 6-2 on Suzanne Lenglen court.

Seventh seed Kuznetsova was equally as impressive, the 2006 finalist from Russia thrashing Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva 6-0 6-2 on Court Two.

Elsewhere, France's Marion Bartoli, 13th seed, looked on the verge of tears after being dumped out of her home grand slam, losing 6-3 7-5 to Italian Tathiana Garbin.

Other winners on the fifth day of action at Roland Garros were 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki, 24th seed Aleksandra Wozniak and unseeded pair Jarmila Groth and Lourdes Dominguez Lino.