The former Wimbledon champion won 6-4, 6-3 in a typically dominant performance.

Serena, whose sister Venus tackles Vera Zvonareva in the day's late match, is looking to earn her second title here having lifted the trophy in 2002, beating the now retired Justine Henin in the final.

Fourth seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic made short work of Russian Maria Kirilenko, giving up just two games in a 6-1, 6-1 win.

Despite her seemingly easy victory, Jankovic said she had been off colour recently.

'I've been sick for a week now and I've been struggling a little bit,' said the defending champion.

'I have problems breathing. I'm still on antibiotics and trying to recover and get healthy.'

In the day's only other game Swiss ninth seed Patty Schnyder beat eighth-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 in a marathon battle. -- AFP