Hingis cruises in Berlin

Hingis powered past Déchy in straight sets Keystone

Switzerland's world number one Martina Hingis had little difficulty in reaching the quarter-finals of the German Open on Thursday, but her compatriot Patty Schnyder failed to make it through.

The St Gallen player made a tentative start to her match against France’s Nathalie Déchy, dropping serve in the opening game. But the Swiss star recovered to crush the world number 48 in straight sets (6-3, 6-1).

Wilting in the face of some strong and varied play by Hingis, Déchy finally surrendered with a double fault on match point after 77 minutes of play.

For Hingis Thursday’s victory was another boost in her build up to the French Open, the only Grand Slam event to so far elude the world number one.

“I still need a bit of time to adjust to clay but it’s looking good,” Hingis said after the match. “Every match helps.”

Hingis is likely to face a tougher time in the quarter-finals of the prestigious Berlin tournament, where she is due to meet eighth seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. On Thursday the Spaniard overcame Slovakia’s Ludmilla Cervanova in three sets (6-3, 1-6, 6-3).

Schnyder lost to France’s fourth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo 1-6, 6-4, 0-6.

swissinfo with agencies