Serena Williams advances in Charleston

CHARLESTON, S.C., April 15 (UPI) -- American Serena Williams advanced in the second round Tuesday at the $1.34 million Family Circle Cup.

Williams defeated Argentina's Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-4. Williams was the Charleston runner-up in 2003.

In other second-round action, Romanian Sorana Cirstea beat third-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. Sixth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France survived a second-set loss to beat Australia's Casey Dellacqua 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

Also, last year's Charleston runner-up Dinara Safina of Russia, defeated Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-1, 6-4. Tenth-seeded Hungarian Agnes Szavay beat Japanese Ai Sugiyama 7-5, 3-6, 6-4.

Safina lost to Serbian star Jelena Jankovic in last year's finale here.