Former world number one Martina Hingis [Images] claimed her first seeded victim on her comeback trail when she reached the quarter-finals of the Australian hardcourt championships on Wednesday.

Swiss Hingis beat seventh seed Klara Koukalova 6-3, 6-2 and set up a quarter-final with Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain, who upset second seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy [Images] 6-3, 6-1.

Hingis, making a return to competitive tennis after retiring with foot and ankle injuries in 2002, is gaining in confidence and was too clinical for the world number 35.

The 25-year-old Hingis placed her Czech opponent under intense pressure throughout the match and required three match points before Koukalova netted a forehand after 70 minutes.

"We were both pretty flat towards the end. I just had more to give," said Hingis.

"At the third match point, I was like 'thank God' it was over. The anticipation is coming back and every set I'm shaking off the rustiness of the last few years."

Hingis said her younger opponents did not know what to expect when they played her.

"They haven't seen me around for three years and they don't know what to expect," said Hingis. "Maybe that's one of the reasons and the other is they don't know me.

"One thing I realise is that some of the girls, they do have respect and when I see them I have to take advantage of it."

Looking ahead to her quarter-final, Hingis said: "I know she's a little girl so she's not going to overpower me.

"I don't think she really has a big weapon but neither does she have a weakness."

Hingis is using the Gold Coast tournament and next week's Sydney International as a warm-up for the Australian Open, which begins on January 16.

Top seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland [Images] also advanced to the quarter-finals after she defeated Angela Haynes of the United States 6-3, 6-0.

• Complete tennis coverage
• All you want to know about Sania Mirza