 Hingis next faces Italy's Francesca Schiavone |
Martina Hingis reached the Italian Open third round in Rome with a 7-5 6-3 win over Czech 12th seed Nicole Vaidisova. The Swiss star lost her first two service games but then hit back, breaking Vaidisova four times.
Earlier, US ninth seed Venus Williams made short work of Czech Lucie Safarova to go through with a 6-1 6-4 victory.
"The second set was more difficult than the first, but I played well," said the world number 12. "I hope to keep it up for the rest of the week."
Hingis now plays home hopeful Francesca Schiavone. The eighth seed defeated compatriot Mara Santangelo 6-4 6-0.
In first round action, Australia's Samantha Stosur upset Slovak 13th seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 1-6 6-3.
Israel's Shahar Peer, who won the Prague Open title last Sunday, was beaten 1-6 6-2 6-0 by Russia's Vera Zvonareva.
There was more home success as 20-year-old qualifier Romina Oprandi defeated Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi 6-0 5-7 6-3, and Roberta Vinci put out Swede Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-1.
MMIX
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