S. Williams makes Bangalore quarterfinals

BANGALORE, India, March 5 (UPI) -- Third-seeded Serena Williams breezed through a second-round match Wednesday at the $600,000 Bangalore Open tennis tournament in India.

Williams, appearing in just her second tournament of the year and first event since dropping an Australian Open quarterfinals match in January, said she made too many mistakes. But she only appeared rusty in the first set, winning it 7-5 and then closing out Tzipora Obziler 6-0 in the second set.

She advanced to a quarterfinal match Friday with Anastassia Rodionova, who earned her quarterfinal slot with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 upset of sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer.

Fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder defeated Aiko Nakamura, 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 6-2, but No. 5-seeded Agnes Szavay fell 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to Akgul Amanmuradova. Schnyder and Amanmuradova meet in another quarterfinal Friday.

The second round is to wrap-up Thursday, with top-seeded Jelena Jankovic and No. 2-seeded Venus Williams on the card.

The tournament finals are scheduled for Sunday, with the Bangalore Open champion winning $95,500.