Dubai, UAE  - Serena Williams eased through in her first match since withdrawing from a Paris semi-final, overcoming a slow start to get past Sara Errani 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 at the Barclays Championships on Tuesday.

The world number one Australian Open champion had withdrawn in France due to knee pain but showed little sign of discomfort against Errani for a place in the third round.

Williams needed to kick into gear after losing the opening set, storming in the second but double-faulting away two set points in the seventh game.

Dubai, UAE - World number two Dinara Safina has written off her 6-4, 6-2 opening defeat Tuesday at the Barclays Championships as a "bad day" as the Russian failed to recover after losing the Australian Open final.

Victory by Virginie Razzano of France marked the second straight loss for the Russian, who said she was well off her game.

"It was not my day, I just couldn't play my game," said Safina, who had won three of four matches against the number 58 Razzano. "I played worse in this loss than I did in Melbourne."

Dubai, UAE - Dubai organizers of the Barclays Championships on Tuesday cited security concerns and "public sentiment" in the volatile Middle East as likely motives for a ban of Israeli player Shahar Peer from the event.

Three days after the United Arab Emirates government denied the number 45 a visa, the situation threatened to explode into a full-fledged diplomatic incident.

The recent Israeli air attacks on Gaza would not have helped the situation.

Dubai, Feb 17 : Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza on Tue

Dubai, UAE - Jelena Jankovic got on and off court in efficient style Tuesday, reaching the third round of the Barclays Championships over unconventional Romanian Monica Niculescu 6-3, 6-2.

The Serb third seed, a finalist in 2005, needed a fast adjustment from indoor play in wintery Paris to the mid-20s Celsius of the Gulf.

Niculesco, ranked 48th, strikes the ball double-fisted off both wings in a style similar to that of Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

Jankovic, who had a bye in the opening round, said her opponent presented problems but nothing that the former number one could not solve.

Dubai, UAE  - Ana Ivanovic got off to a winning start under new coach Craig Kardon, reaching the second round in a stroll at the Barclays Championships on Monday.

The French Open winner only teamed with the American a week or so ago in hopes of stopping her slide after winning Roland Garros but failing to back up that big win.

The Serb defeated Russian Alisa Kleybanova 7-5, 6-4 to take revenge for a third-round upset loss in the Australian Open, the last time Ivanovic played a WTA match.