Melbourne: Martina Hingis produced another blistering display to advance into the third round and send rivals an ominous warning that her Grand Slam return is no novelty act.
The former world No 1 totally dominated a top 100 opponent to dismiss Finland's Emma Laine 6-1, 6-1 in just 52 minutes, showing no sign of her three-year injury layoff.
Fifth seed Mary Pierce crashed out of the Australian Open second round on Thursday when she failed to find the sizzling comeback form that swept her to two Grand Slam finals last year.
The Frenchwoman fell 6-3, 7-5 to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic in scorching conditions at Melbourne Park.
Second seed Kim Clijsters feared that she may have to withdraw from the Australian Open as she struggles with intense pain from a back injury.
The Belgian downed China's Meng Yuan 6-4, 6-2 to book her third round berth but needed medical treatment on her lower back and said she was not confident of making her next match, scheduled for Saturday.
Asked if she could continue, she replied, "I'm sort of waiting every day to see how it feels, so I can't tell you now."
The Asian challenge in the season opening Grand Slam event is coming to an end with only Japan's Aiko Nakamura remaining in the singles draw at the Australian Open on Thursday, on a day when all four other regional hopes were sent packing.
Nakamura was in outstanding form, whipping 31st seed Gisela Dulko 6-1, 6-1 in just 52 minutes to make sure of a place in the third round.
It was in stark contrast to Asia's other representatives - Sania Mirza, Shinobu Asagoe, Meng Yuan and Yan Zi - who all bowed out.
Her next opponent is seventh seed Patty Schnyder who ousted Japan's Asagoe.
Serena Williams confounded her critics with a dominating display on Wednesday but world No 1 Lindsay Davenport wobbled before booking her third round berth.
Among the men, number two seed Andy Roddick neared his best form to dispose of South African Wesley Moodie in straight sets while fourth seed David Nalbandian, seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic and eighth seed Gaston Gaudio also progressed.
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Women's fourth seed Maria Sharapova, sixth seed Nadia Petrova and former champion Justine Henin-Hardenne also safely negotiated the second round.
Williams, the defending champion, has looked out of shape and out of form in the lead up to the tournament but put in a determined performance against Camille Pin of France, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just 49 minutes.
In the men's draw, Roddick, a semi-finalist in two of the last three years, upped his tempo against the 60th-ranked Moodie to coast through 7-5, 6-3, 6-2.
But he played down his chances despite the absence of Andre Agassi, Marat Safin and Rafael Nadal.
"There's no such thing as an open draw. You have to win matches. You have to win sets," said the 23-year-old, who is the fastest server in men's tennis. He will now play Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the next round.
Roger Federer, too, had an impressive match as he sailed into the third round.
Federer dismissed unseeded German Florian Mayer 6-1 6-4 6-0 to enhance his status as favourite for a second title at the Australian Open.
"I think I can definitely improve little things," he said.
Argentina's Nalbandian encountered stiff resistance before beating Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in 3hrs in the night match on Rod Laver Arena.
Ljubicic of Croatia was equally comfortable in his 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 workout against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber and joined eighth seed Gaudio of Argentina as winner.
Gaudio had a workmanlike 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory over another German, Lars Burgsmuller, and will next play Fabrice Santoro of France.
Ljubicic will now clash with Spanish 31st seed Feliciano Lopez on Friday.
Number 11 seed David Ferrer is also safely through, overcoming the challenge of Italy's Daniele Bracciali.
Elsewhere, Henin-Hardenne, seeded eight, continued her promising form, beating Hana Sromova of the Czech Republic, who twisted an ankle in the second set, 7-6 (7/2), 6-1.
The Belgian, who won here in 2004, has warned her rivals she is playing the best tennis of her career and has been in top form this year.
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