BERLIN: :Serena Williams ran her winning streak to 16 matches Tuesday by beating Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the German Open. The 20th-ranked Italian fought off repeated break chances throughout the second set before her forehand sailed long and allowed Williams to take a 4-2 lead. The fifth-seeded Williams is chasing her fourth straight WTA title.

Two other seeded players also advanced. No. 8 Marion Bartoli beat Lucie Safarova 6-0, 6-3, and No. 7 Elena Dementieva defeated Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-1, 6-2. But Vera Dushevina of Russia upset ninth-seeded Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-3 and Gisela Dulko beat No. 12 Nicole Vaidisova, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

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