Ivanovic, Serena reach U.S. Open's Round 2

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic and former top-ranked star Serena Williams were among Tuesday's first-round women winners at the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

Serbian Ivanovic defeated Russian Vera Dushevina 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 and fourth-seeded Serena beat Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4.

Ivanovic is the reigning French Open champ and was this year's runner-up at the Australian Open. She's played in three of the last six major finals.

Serena, eight-time major tournament winner, eliminated Bondarenko in 57 minutes. The American won the U.S. Open in 1999 and 2002, and was the runner-up in 2001.

Ivanovic and Serena were joined in the second round by Russian Dinara Safina, who beat American teenager Kristie Ahn 6-3, 6-4. The sixth-seeded Safina was the French Open runner-up to Ivanovic and the runner-up at the Olympic tennis tournament two weeks ago.