Seeds progress in Paris

Three of the dark horses for the women’s title at this year’s French Open progressed comfortably through to the second round early today.

In-form Serbian Jelena Jankovic, the fourth seed, thrashed France’s Stephanie Foretz 6-2 6-2 on Suzanne Lenglen court.

Jankovic has been tipped to go far at Roland Garros after a successful 2007 that has seen her win tournaments in Auckland, Charleston and Rome.

Sixth-seed Nicole Vaidisova, the prodigious 18-year-old talent from the Czech Republic, defeated Emmanuelle Gigliardi of Switzerland 6-4 6-3 on Philippe Chatrier.

And on Court 1, 13th-seed Elena Dementieva of Russia was a 6-3 6-2 winner over Germany’s Angelique Kerber.

Dementieva was the runner-up here in 2004, when she lost to Anastasia Myskina in the first all-Russian grand-slam final.

Dementieva and Jankovic are scheduled to meet in the quarter-finals.

The trio join big names Justine Henin, Serena Williams and Venus Williams in the second round.