Hingis goes through against Smashnova

A rusty Martina Hingis needed six match points to see off Anna Smashnova 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the New Haven Open.

Having played only one tournament since May after returning from ankle surgery, she looked shaky at first against the Israeli.

But the former world No1 from Switzerland now faces 1999 Wimbledon semi-finalist Alexandra Stevenson of America.

However, there is no place in the second round for eighth seed Elena Dementieva after the Russian was dumped out 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 by German qualifier Angelika Roesch.

Roesch now faces American qualifier Laura Granville - a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 winner over Daja Bedanova - for the right to meet either top seed and defending champion Venus Williams or Meghann Shaughnessy.

Elena Bovina, a third qualifier, put paid to the hopes of Lisa Raymond 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.