Former champion Hingis waltzes past Dechy

MELBOURNE, Jan 16 (Reuters) Three-time former champion Martina Hingis wasted no time in booking her second-round berth with a 6-0 6-2 demolition of France's Nathalie Dechy in the Australian Open today.

The Swiss sixth seed, who appeared in six consecutive finals from 1997, gave the 27-year-old Dechy no chance with her crisp groundstrokes and superior baseline court speed to prevail in just 54 minutes on Vodafone Arena.

The former world number one, who returned to the tour full-time at the start of last year after a three-year absence, will take on Finn Emma Laine or Russian qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva in round two.

REUTERS PM BD1255