Tennis-Hingis serves up French Open warning

ROME, May 15 (Reuters) Former world number one Martina Hingis stepped up her preparations for the French Open with a 6-0 6-1 demolition of Sara Errani in the first round of the Italian Open today.

The 25-year-old Swiss, who has broken back into the top 30 since ending her self-imposed three-year exile from the professional game last December, proved far too strong for the Italian qualifier.

Errani double-faulted on match point to lose in just over an hour.

''I was just happy I didn't give her so many chances so the crowd would start getting behind her,'' said Hingis, who will be aiming to win the only grand slam title missing from her collection at Roland Garros later this month.

''It's my first time back in Rome after five years and it's not so easy to play here on the clay again.'' She will next face rising Czech Nicole Vaidisova, who took a set to find her rhythm before beating Finland's Emma Laine 5-7 6-1 6-3.

''I've never played her before but I know she's very talented,'' said Hingis, the 1998 winner.

''I really have to focus on myself and just take it round by round.

''So far I've been playing very good tennis and I'm getting better every match. My game is almost up there with when I was number one in the world but there are still some improvements to make.'' Hingis was not the only former champion to win on the opening day of the tournament.

Ninth seed and 1999 winner Venus Williams also progressed to the second round with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Zuzana Ondraskova.

Russian 14th seed Elena Likhovtseva was the only seed to fall, a 6-4 6-3 loser to Jelena Jankovic.

Likhovtseva was almost followed out by her compatriot, 10 seed Anastasia Myskina, who survived a scare against qualifier Victoria Azarenka.

The 2004 French Open champion came from a break down in the deciding set before squeezing through 6-3 3-6 7-6.

REUTERS PG PM0219