SERENA MOVING FORWARD SLOW START BUT STRONG FINISH AT JPMORGAN CHASE.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

CARSON -- A six-month injury layoff seems to have strengthened both the tennis game and mental resolve of Serena Williams.

Her latest effort most clearly illustrated her turnaround.

Williams came back from a disastrous start and a frightening fall to beat Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 Thursday in the third round of the JPMorgan Chase Open at Home Depot Center.

Hantuchova was the last player Williams faced before taking time off to rehabilitate her chronically injured left knee.

Williams looked listless in that straight-set defeat at the Australian Open. Playing well since her return two weeks ago in Cincinnati, this was Williams' chance to show how far she has come since that match in January.

That didn't happen early.

Williams, who grew up in nearby Compton, had triple-break point in the first game before things went remarkably south.

Hantuchova came back to hold serve and jumped out to a 5-0 lead on two breaks.

In the sixth game, Williams took a tumble going after a ball in the right corner. She asked for medical treatment on her left ankle after the set.

``It definitely was a nightmare,'' Williams said of the first set. ``I felt that I just got off to a slow start. I didn't feel out of it. I was just making some errors. I felt if you stop making the errors, you can do it.''

Williams lost her serve to start the second set but turned things around from there. She won the next four games and finished off the set with a backhand winner down the line.

The third set was on serve through six games. Then Williams took charge with two backhand service return winners to set up double-break point. Hantuchova fought those off, but Williams won the pivotal game when the Slovakian hit a forehand long.

Williams faced a break point on her next game, but survived and took the match when Hantuchova hit a forehand long.

It was difficult to know what to expect from Williams in her comeback. She's looking like a player who could challenge for the title here and at the U.S. Open in three weeks.

``I definitely think she's moving much better, and she's serving really, really well,'' Hantuchova said. ``I think she needs a few more matches to be 100 percent back. But I've always felt that, once Serena is at her best, there's not too many people better than her.''

Maria Sharapova is making quick work of her opponents, which is just what she needs coming off playing five matches in winning the Acura Classic in San Diego last week.

The top seed dominated Marion Bartoli of France 6-1, 6-2. Sharapova controlled the points, hitting 38 winners to six for Bartoli, who is ranked No. 26 in the world.

``I took advantage of the short balls and definitely took advantage of her second serves,'' Sharapova said.

She should face a tougher test today in a revenge match against fellow Russian Dinara Safina, a 6-2, 7-6 (2) winner over Laura Granville. The fifth-seeded Safina knocked Sharapova out of the French Open in three sets earlier this year. They've split four matches in their careers.

Third-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia got some vengeance of her own in the third round, beating Shahar Peer of Israel 7-5, 6-3.

Peer, ranked No. 25 in the world, got her first victory over a top-10 player against Dementieva at the French Open.

Dementieva had flashbacks after nearly allowing a 4-0 lead to slip away in the first set before taking control in the second.

``There were so many memories going on in my mind and I was very upset,'' Dementieva said. ``I was saying this is not going to happen to me again.''

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Serena Williams looks disappointed after losing the first set to Daniela Hantuchova.

(2) Serena Williams returns against Daniela Hantuchova in Thursday's win.

(3) Maria Sharapova returns a shot during her third-round victory against Marion Bartoli at Home Depot Center.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

JPMORGAN CHASE OPEN