INDIAN WELLS, California - Top seed Maria Sharapova overcame sloppy serving and brutal heat to beat Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy 7-5 6-2 and reach the Pacific Life Open fourth round.
Third seed Martina Hingis also advanced with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Austria's Yvonne Meusburger.
Sharapova, who has struggledwith a hamstring injury and illness, had trouble controlling her groundstrokes in the first set but improved in the second.
The Russian has hardly played since losing to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final in January.
"When you don't compete for that amount of time, it's normal," she said.
"In as much as you know you've worked hard and you know you're ready to play, you can't really expect amazing things from your game," Sharapova added. "I definitely feel like these matches are getting the rough stuff out. But it's just good to be back on court and being in some tight situations."
Sharapova is having trouble with her big first serve and blamed her sore hamstring.
"Part of it was probably the leg because that's how I injured it," the Russian said. "I only started serving five days before the tournament started because I got the injury when I landed on the serve. So I have to take it easy on that."
Sharapova next faces compatriot and number 15 seed Vera Zvonareva who defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-3 6-3.
Former world number one Hingis was delighted with her form as she won the first 16 points of the match, playing as well as she has at any time since coming out of retirement 15 months ago.
"The first four games it was unbelievable," she said. "That's what I've been practicing for and it almost scared me."
Hingis will next face number 14 Daniela Hantuchova, who fought past Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-2 7-6.
Hantuchova upset Hingis to win her only career title at Indian Wells five years ago.
Seventh seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia beat Martina Muller 6-2 6-4, and eighth seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia overcame compatriot Maria Kirilenko 6-4 6-1.
Number 11 Shahar Peer of Israel overcame a determined challenge from 19th seed Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic to win 6-3 1-6 6-4, and number 12 Li Na of China defeated Alona Bondarenko of Russia 5-7 6-3 6-2.
