Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova shook off the effects of a hip injury to cruise past American Meghann Shaughnessy in the second round of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Russian, in her first match since suffering an abductor strain in a loss to Francesca Schiavone on Saturday, won 6-0, 6-1 to book a place against Spain's Lourdes Dominguez-Lino in the next round.
"I didn't play for three days, so it's pretty hard to go out there," the fourth seed told reporters.
"I was still really surprised with the result but I was focused on every ball and just was, I guess, consistent."
Kuznetsova hinted earlier in the week that she might have to withdraw, but the 2004 US Open champion moved well on the clay and marked the winning point with a celebratory jump.
"Hopefully it's going to get better," she said.
Second seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia, the winner last week at Amelia Island, moved on with a 6-1, 0-6, 6-2 victory over Ukrainian qualifier Alona Bondarenko.
French eighth seed Nathalie Dechy, who has been struggling to recover from a December knee injury, had a tough time with 16-year-old Georgian Anna Tatishvili but won 7-5, 6-4 and will play Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik.
"For the moment, at least on the fitness side, I'm getting really close to peak," Dechy said. "And on the tennis side, I just want to get better every day and I'm not thinking about that. I just want to enjoy it and hit some balls."
Unseeded Karolina Sprem of Croatia downed Jamea Jackson of the US in three sets and will play top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Italy's Mara Santangelo beat American Jill Craybas 6-4, 7-6 (5) and will play third seeded Patty Schnyder.
Qualifier Julia Vakulenko of the Ukraine eliminated 10th seeded Jelena Jankovic on Tuesday and followed that with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over unseeded Antonella Serra Zanetti to set up a match against seventh seeded Dinara Safina.
