World number one Lindsay Davenport and a former holder of the top ranking Venus Williams reached the third round of the Amelia Island Championship in contrasting style on Tuesday.

Davenport opened the defence of her title with an unconvincing 6-4 6-3 victory over Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico, while Williams looked full of confidence as she trounced Slovakia's Martina Sucha 6-0 6-1.

"I was a little bit rusty out there," Davenport said. "I didn't feel that comfortable, my movement wasn't what I'd like and I was letting her dictate points."

Fifth seed Williams, who beat her sister Serena on the way to the semi-finals in Miami last week, blasted 20 winners in her first match at Amelia Island since she won the title in 2002.

Japan's Ai Sugiyama, the 13th seed, also reached the third round after she beat Czech Barbora Strycova 6-7 6-1 6-1.

Ruano Pascual, the world's number one doubles player, caused the biggest upset of the tournament when she ousted 10th seed Karolina Sprem of Croatia 4-6 6-3 6-4 in the first round.

In other first-round action, ninth seed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia and Silvia Farina Elia, the Italian 12th seed, both advanced, while rising Chinese player Peng Shuai progressed when American Meghann Shaughnessy retired with a back problem when trailing 6-3 2-0.