Jankovic and Robredo safely through in Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) - World number four Jelena Jankovic got her bid for a second clay title of the year off to a flying start when she crushed Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-2 6-1 in the Madrid Open first round on Sunday.

The Serbian fourth seed, who won the Andalucia Tennis Championships last month, broke the Spanish wild card seven times and next faces Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova or Gisela Dulko of Argentina.

In the first round of the men's main draw at the combined event, 16th seed Tommy Robredo was the highest-ranked player in action and had to come from a set down to beat Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 3-6 6-2 6-2.

World number one Rafael Nadal has a bye into the second round and begins his quest for a sixth title of the year, and a fourth on clay, against the winner of the first-round clash between Juergen Melzer and Albert Montanes.

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)