Thursday, 11 March, 2010

Former world number one Justine Henin breezed into the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells as she dispatched Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2 6-2.

Playing in only her second tournament since ending an 18-month retirement - and her first since the Australian Open in January - Henin looked a long way from her best but was nevertheless too good for Rybarikova.

Henin, one of six former champions in the field, is competing with a wild-card.

One other wild-card progressed on Thursday as Australian Alicia Molik ousted Tatjana Malek of Germany 6-1 6-3, but three others are on their way home already with American Christina McHale losing 7-5 6-3 to compatriot Vania King, Eleni Daniilidou of Greece falling 6-0 7-5 to American Jill Craybas, while Alexa Glatch lost to Britain's Elena Baltacha 6-3 6-7 (3-5) 6-4.

Elsewhere, Anna Chakvetadze fought back from losing the opening set to beat Britain's Anne Keothavong 2-6 6-3 6-1.

Also advancing were Polona Hercog, Kimiko Date Krumm, Tamarine Tanasugarn, Kirsten Flipkens, Olga Govortsova, Sorana Cirstea, Vera Dushevina, Patty Schnyder, Shuai Peng and Virginie Razzano.

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