Gold Coast, Australia -- Martina Hingis continued her comeback with a straight-set victory Wednesday in the second round of the Australian Women's Hardcourts event.

Hingis, the former No. 1 player in the world, earned a 6-3, 6-2 win over seventh-seeded Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic.

"It wasn't an easy match," said Hingis. "But on the other hand, I made the important points, I won those games which I needed to win."

A five-time Grand Slam champion, Hingis had been retired since 2002 following a series of injuries. She played one match early last year, but lost in the first round at a tournament in Thailand.

"Every set I feel like I'm shaking off a little bit of the rustiness of the last three years," the Swiss star added.

Hingis, a wild card entry for this tournament, beat Maria Vento-Kabchi in the first round and will next take on Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Llagostera Vives upset second-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy, 6-3, 6-1, on Wednesday.

Top-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland had little trouble in a 6-3, 6-0 rout of American qualifier and fellow lefthander Angela Haynes. Schnyder, the defending Gold Coast champion, will next meet Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic in the quarters.

Also Wednesday, fifth-seeded Tatiana Golovin of France cruised past Austria's Sybille Bammer 6-1, 6-3. Next up for Golovin will be fourth-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy.

Thursday's other quarterfinal match will pit third-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia against eighth-seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues.

The winner of this Australian Open tune-up will claim $28,000.