Charleston, April 13:

Venus Williams cruised into the Family Circle Cup quarter-finals on Thursday, routing China’s Chan Yung-Jan 6-2, 6-1. Williams, ranked No 29, will next face Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, a 6-4, 7-5 winner over eighth-seeded Li Na of China.

Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, ranked No 9 and the highest remaining seed in the $1.3 million event, had an even easier time. Jankovic defeated Mara Santangelo of Italy 6-3, 6-0. It’s Jankovic’s fourth appearance in Charleston, but until this week she never survived the second round. Last year, Jankovic lost to a qualifier.

Jankovic will meet Katrina Srebotnik of Slovenia, a 7-5, 7-6 (5), winner over Zheng Jie of China, in the quarter-finals. Fourth-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain, 6-2, 6-2.

Safina will face Tatiana Golovin of France, a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 winner over Peng Shaui of China.

Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands also advanced with a 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1 win over Sybille Bammer of Austria. She will meet ninth-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia, who defeated seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, 6-3, 6-3.