Jelena Jankovic began her Family Circle Cup defence with a 7-5 6-0 win in the second round over Alexandra Stevenson.

The Serb top seed, coming off her first final of 2008 at Key Biscayne, dropped two service games in the opening set.

But she saved all three break points she faced in the second to ease past the American qualifier, playing in her first main draw since August 2006.

Next up for Jankovic will be Russian Anastasia Rodionova, who beat France's Aravane Rezai 6-3 6-4 in Charleston.

Elena Dementieva, seeded fourth, and Vera Zvonareva, the ninth seed, joined compatriot Rodionova in the third round.