Kim Clijsters' first step toward another title at the Bank of the West Classic was not an easy one.
The top seed and defending champion lost the opening set against Jelena Jankovic but rallied for a 5-7 6-2 6-2 triumph in the second round of the hardcourt tournament.
One of four players to get a bye in the opening round, Clijsters has dominated this event in recent years. She won in 2001, reached the final the following year, won in 2003, missed 2004 with a left wrist injury and hoisted the trophy again last year.
The defending US Open champion, Clijsters lost the first set before bouncing back against the Serbian to advance to the quarter-finals.
In other second-round action on Wednesday, American Shenay Perry dropped a 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-2) decision to Fed Cup team-mate Jill Craybas.
Sixth-seeded Ai Sugiyama from Japan was soundly beaten by France's Tatiana Golovin 6-2 6-3.
Seventh seed Shahar Peer of Israel also fell, as Samantha Stosur of Australia posted a 7-5 6-3 triumph. Stosur advances to face either Austrian Sybille Bammer or Czech Nicole Vaidisova.
