Halep cruises past Jankovic at Toronto tennis

Halep, meanwhile, booked her quarter-final spot by fighting off a challenge from 13th-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany.

Ukrainian qualifier Lesia Tsurenko knocked out Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza 7-5 6-1 in only 77 minutes.

Playing for the first time since last month’s Wimbledon tournament, Halep fought off all three break points she faced and won 80 percent of her first serve points in the 81-minute second-round match. “I always played about three hours with her and always had tough matches”, Halep said. Fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia played Slovenia’s Polona Hercog in another late match.

Angelique Kerber, of Germany, hits a return to Simona Halep, of Romania, during the Rogers Cup women’s tennis tournament in Toronto, Thursday, August 13, 2015.

Italian veteran Roberta Vinci broke serve six times in a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Daria Gavrilova.

Two-time Australian Open victor Victoria Azarenka upset third seeded Petra Kvitova 6-2, 6-3 to reach the third round. Bencic toppled fourth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 7-5, 7-5.

Wozniacki, a former world No. 1, was also defeated in the second round last week in Stanford as she battled injury.

The Spaniard was the surprise package at the All England Club as she reached her maiden grand slam final, her run eventually ended as Serena Williams cruised to the title 6-4 6-4.

Top-ranked Williams will play her third-round match on Thursday night in Toronto against Andrea Petkovic of Germany.

Canadian Eugenie Bouchard’s downward spiral continued on Tuesday with a humbling 6-0 5-7 6-2 loss to Swiss Belinda Bencic in the opening round.