Martina Hingis of Switzerland opened her bid to win the first grand slam with a ruthless straight sets win over Olga Barabanschikova of Belarus on Tuesday.

The world number one advanced to the Sydney International quarter-finals -- main dress rehearsal for next week's Australian Open -- 6-0, 6-2 in only 34 minutes.

Wimbledon semifinalist Alexandra Stevenson of the United Statesjoined Hingis in the last eight with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Austria's fourth seed Barbara Schett.

Seeds Amanda Coetzer of South Africa and Russia's Anna Kournikova both won first round matches in straight sets.

Seventh seed Coetzer defeated American Lisa Raymond 7-6, 6-0 and Kournikova, eight seed, edged Belgian Sabine Appelmans 7-6, 6-2.

In the men's event, second seed Nicola Lapentti of Ecuador eliminated Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Slovakian fifth seed Karol Kucera beat Czech Martin Damm 7-6, 6-1 in the first round. (Xinhua)