Hingis makes flying start in Japan

Former world number one and four-time champion Martina Hingis pulverised South Korea's Cho Yoon-jeong 6-0 6-0 in the Pan Pacific Open first round yesterday.

The "Swiss Miss" returned to tennis last month and reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in her first grand slam since injury forced her into early retirement in 2002.

Hingis, who won the mixed doubles title in Melbourne with India's Mahesh Bhupathi, looked as though she had never been away, swamping her Korean opponent in just 33 minutes.

"It was a good start," said the 25-year-old Hingis, who dropped just five points in a 14-minute first set, one of those on a double fault.

"I probably exceeded my expectations in Australia and that confidence showed today. It shows the potential is there and I'm improving every week."

Hingis, who won the Pan Pacific Open title in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002, will play third seed Nathalie Dechy of France in the last 16 of the $1.3 million Tokyo tournament.