The 36-year-old, who won the French Open title in 2010 and has reached the quarter-finals of the other three major tennis tournaments, defeated Kateryna Kozlova of Ukraine in three sets at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Kozlova, currently ranked 115 in the world, took the opening set 6-3 before her opponent levelled almost instantly, taking the second 6-1.

Schiavone then secured her place in the next round of the qualification tournament as she took the third and decisive set 6-4.

Standing in her way of a place in the main draw is Elitsa Kostova of Bulgaria.

Kostova, similarly to Schiavone, was forced to come from behind as she lost the opening set of her match against Duan Yingying of China.

Duan edged the first set in a tiebreak before Kostova, currently 136th in the world, restored parity when she took the second set 6-3.

The Bulgarian then confirmed her place in the next round as she also won the third set 6-3.

Former world number five Daniela Hantuchová was also in action today.

The Slovakian, who lost in the semi-finals of the 2008 Australian Open to Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, had been given a wildcard into this tournament but was eliminated by Mandy Minella of Luxembourg.

Minella, who has won two doubles titles on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour, claimed a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 win.

Lucie Hradecká of the Czech Republic was also a winner in California today.

The 31-year-old, who won the 2011 French Open and 2013 US Open women's doubles titles alongside Andrea Hlaváčková, overcame Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova in three sets.

Hradecká took the opening set 6-2 before her opponent secured the second in a tiebreak to take the contest to a decider.

The Czech player secured an early break in the third, however, and went on to take the third set 6-2.

She will now face Varvara Lepchenko of the United States.

The world number 51 overcame Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia 6-1, 6-3.

Qualifying is due to continue tomorrow before main draw action starts on Wednesday (March 8).