Hingis and Pierce hold court in Rome

Eleanor Preston

Martina Hingis and Mary Pierce will be hoping for comfortable wins as they begin their Masters Series Roma campaigns at the Foro Italico on Tuesday.

Hingis opens against the promising Russian Tatiana Panova in the second round of the $1,200,000 event.

After suffering defeat in the semi-finals in Berlin last week at the hands of Amelie Mauresmo, Hingis has come to Rome in search of her fourth title of the year, and her first on clay.

On paper Panova shouldn't trouble the world number one, but a slow start from Hingis could mean a long afternoon for the Swiss player.

Pierce takes on another Russian, Nadia Petrova, in her first round match. Pierce has only recently recovered from a long term shoulder injury and has very little to show for her year so far.

With the defence of her Roland Garros title only two weeks away, the tenth seed needs to find form and fitness ahead of the French Open.

She can be vulnerable in early rounds though and her lack of match play this year could be a factor if Petrova holds her nerve.

Tournament specialist Conchita Martinez will be up against qualifier Janette Husarova in the second round.

Martinez boasts an enviable record in Rome, and compiled a 24-match winning streak here when she won four back-to-back titles at the Foro Italico between 1993 and 1996, before she was eventually beaten in the 1997 final.

Martinez's experience should spell the end of Husarova's run in Rome.

Troubled former Australian Jelena Dokic will also be attracting attention when she plays Asa Carlsson in the first round on the historic Pallacorda court.

Dokic is accompanied this week by both her parents, her controversial father Damir having completed his ban from the Sanex WTA Tour, which was imposed after a fracas at the U.S. Open last year.

Whether Damir will be on his best behaviour this week remains to be seen.