Tennis: Hingis wins place in quarter-finals

Former world number one Martina Hingis advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian hardcourt championships yesterday after a 6-3, 6-2 victory over seventh seed Klara Koukalova.

Hingis, who has returned to competitive tennis after pulling out with foot and ankle injuries in 2002, was too strong for the world number 35.

She will meet Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain in the quarter-finals. Vives upset second seed Francesca Schiavone 6-3 6-1.

The 25-year-old Swiss is using the Gold Coast tournament and next week's Sydney International as a warm-up for the Australian Open, which begins on January 16.

Hingis' compatriot and top seed Patty Schnyder also advanced to the quarter-finals after she defeated Angela Haynes of the United States 6-3 6-0 and will meet Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.