Tennis-Hantuchova eases into third round at Indian Wells

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 14 (Reuters) - Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia began the defence of her Pacific Life Open title by sweeping past American wildcard Angela Haynes 6-1 6-2 to book a place in the third round on Friday.

The 24-year-old, who won the tournament for a second time by beating Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in last year's final, broke three times in each set to seal victory in just over an hour.

"It feels unbelievable," fifth seed Hantuchova said in a courtside interview after setting up a likely meeting in the next round with 30th-seeded Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko.

"I have so many good memories of Indian Wells and I really enjoyed it today. I was just trying to enjoy myself like last year. It's an incredible honour to be the defending champion of a tournament like this."

In other matches, eighth-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia scraped past American Jill Craybas 7-6 7-5 and Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine beat Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 7-6.

Peng Shuai of China crushed Italian Karin Knapp 6-1 6-3 to set up a third-round encounter with Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska who defeated Ukrainian Mariya Koryttseva 6-1 7-6.

Later on Friday, fourth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova, who won her third grand slam at the Australian Open in January, was scheduled to play French qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro.

World number three and second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova faces fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova in an evening match. (Editing by Ken Ferris)