Angelique Kerber advances at Italian Open

Angelique Kerber has eased into the second round of the Italian Open with a straight-sets triumph over Alize Cornet.

The world number 11 broke her French opponent three times during the opening set on her way to taking it 6-2 with just over half an hour on the clock.

Kerber opened up a 3-1 lead in the second before squandering three break points, but it mattered little in the end as the German secured a 6-2 6-3 victory to advance.

She will now face either Irina-Camelia Begu or Urszula Radwanska for a place in the third round of the tournament.