Hingis said she felt sluggish at the start of the match but that she hopes to avoid the early round pitfalls that have sent her home early in previous years.

``It took some time to get going,'' said Swiss Hingis. ``I hope this year is better... in the past it has been Steffi Graf's tournament.''

Graf, who has won the German Open nine times, won her opening match Tuesday.

Hingis will next face Elena Likhovtseva of Russia in the next round. Likhovtseva beat Dominique van Roost of Belgium 6-3, 7-5.

French Open champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, seeded fourth in Berlin, needed nearly three hours and three tie-breaks to finally defeat American Corina Morariu 7-6 (7-0), 6-7 (5-7) 7-6, (8-6).

Mary Pierce of France was forced to withdraw from the tournament because of a thigh injury.