Australian Open - Women: Ivanovic does enough

Fifth seed Ana Ivanovic produced another stuttering performance at the Australian Open but still managed to beat a dogged Alberta Brianti 6-3 6-2 in the second round.

Ivanovic, who also failed to dazzle in her victory over Julia Goerges on Monday, produced a similar effort on Rod Laver Arena to set up a third-round match with Russia's Alisa Kleybanova, who beat France's Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-1 3-6 6-2.

The 21-year-old Serb, beaten finalist at Melbourne Park last year, established an early lead and while Brianti dragged out the eighth game with eight deuces to hold serve, Ivanovic sealed the set on the next game.

Brianti was forced to take a medical time out for treatment on a back injury after Ivanovic jumped out to a 3-0 second set lead and the break had the initial impact of helping her take the next two games.

However, Ivanovic wrestled back control of the contest to complete victory in 92 minutes.

World number three Dinara Safina recovered from a terrible start to beat fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-7 6-3 6-0.

Safina lost the opening set in a tiebreak despite fighting her way back from 5-1 behind and was still struggling to impose herself on the match early in the second.

It was not until midway through the second set that Safina finally seized control, reeling off nine game in a row in an awesome demonstration of her ability.

Safina has never won a Grand Slam title but has emerged as one of the favourites for the Australian Open after reaching the finals of the French Open and the Olympics last year as well as cementing her place in the world's top five.

Serbia's world number one Jelena Jankovic booked her place in the third round with a testing 6-4 7-5 win over Kirsten Flipkens .

The top seed was given a solid workout by her Belgian opponent before sealing victory in one hour and 46 minutes.

Jankovic, who is chasing her first Grand Slam title, will next face Japan's Ai Sugiyama on Friday, after the 26th seed recovered from a set down to beat Nathalie Dechy 1-6 6-1 6-3.