V. Williams dominates opponent

One top seed was upset in first-round play.
CARSON, Calif. (AP) -- Venus Williams needed two games to warm up, then overwhelmed Ashley Harkleroad 6-2, 6-1 Tuesday night in the second round of the JPMorgan Chase Open.
Williams, the No. 2 seed, hit powerful groundstrokes throughout the 50-minute match that sent Harkleroad scrambling behind the baseline.
"She's a good player," Williams said of Harkleroad. "She's very consistent, she moves well and she's solid. It's important to go out and force the issue, which I did today. If I can just go out and overpower somebody, it can be intimidating."
Harkleroad won the first two games before Williams took the next seven while losing only six points in the final five games.
On the defense
"I'm the type of player that defends a lot, but that's difficult when you play her," said Harkleroad, who lost to Williams earlier in the year in the Australian Open. "You need to go for it. Why stay back by the fence and run? That's no fun for me."
Earlier, French Open finalist and No. 4 Elena Dementieva defeated qualifier Lilia Osterloh 6-4, 6-2 to become the first of the top eight seeded players to advance through the second round of the $585,000 tournament.
Top-seeded Serena Williams and three-time tournament champion Lindsay Davenport begin play today.
No. 9 Patty Schnyder, No. 10 Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi, and No. 15 Amy Frazier won first-round matches earlier Tuesday, but No. 16 Meghann Shaughnessy was upset by Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (2), 2-6, 7-5.
Daniela Hantuchova also won her first-round match, beating Cara Black 6-2, 6-4.
"I feel like I can do some damage now," Hantuchova said.
She has been working with trainer Marian Gejdos on her physical conditioning since December, adding about 11 pounds to a 6-foot frame that appeared almost skeletal last year and improving her strength and agility.
"I feel so much stronger," said Hantuchova, No. 5 in the world early last year and currently No. 35. "I feel like I've got a lot more power on my strokes, and I feel faster on the court also.
"It's helped my overall fitness. I just feel really, really strong and I know if I hit my shots the right way it will be hard to play against me."
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