Hantuchova and Sharapova ease into third round

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Defending champion Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia and fourth-seeded Russian Maria Sharapova breezed through their opening matches in the Pacific Life Open second round on Friday.

Hantuchova swept past American wildcard Angela Haynes 6-1 6-2 in windy conditions at the Indian Well Tennis Garden before Sharapova crushed French qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-1 6-0.

Second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova also cruised through her first encounter, overpowering fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 6-1 in only 53 minutes in an evening match.

Hantuchova, who won the tournament for a second time by beating Kuznetsova in last year's final, broke Haynes three times in each set to seal victory in just over an hour.

"That felt great," the fifth seed told reporters. "It was an incredible feeling to be back on the center court."

The 24-year-old advances to a third round match with China's Zheng Jie, who upset 30th-seeded Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2 6-4.

"It definitely feels like it's my home out there," the Slovakian added. "I wish I could play every match of the year on this court. I don't know what it is. I guess it's the bounce. It's not too slow, not too fast."

SWIRLING WIND