Kerber quickly takes opening match

(Reuters) - Angelique Kerber, who will reclaim the world number one ranking on Monday, breezed to a 6-2 6-1 second-round victory over fellow German Andrea Petkovic at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.

Second-seed Kerber broke Petkovic to open the match and needed only 58 minutes to claim the victory in glaring sunshine in the California desert.

"It was not so easy (playing Petkovic)," said Kerber after the match. "We've known each other forever. It's always tough to play against a friend."

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also advanced.

The 13th seeded Dane turned back qualifier Magda Linette of Poland 6-3 6-0.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, editing by Pritha Sarkar)