FILDERSTADT, Germany -- Martina Hingis beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-4, 6-2 Tuesday in the first round of the $625,000 Porsche Grand Prix, where she tore ankle ligaments last year and lost the No. 1 ranking.

Hingis injured her right ankle during the tournament's 2001 semifinals, was sidelined 2½ months after an operation, and relinquished the top ranking to Jennifer Capriati.

"It wasn't really on my mind," Hingis told Reuters. "It was frustrating, but I've won here four times and it really suits me here. Somehow I really enjoy myself playing here. It's a nice setting, and I could drive down here from home. It's low key and a nice atmosphere and you feel free, nearly at the end of the season."

Hingis was sidelined again after ankle surgery in May.

"You can see that in my game that I'm still missing a little speed, which you need on these fast indoor courts. And maybe I'm missing a little stamina, too,'' said Hingis, now ranked 10th.

Hingis, a four-time champion at Filderstadt, improved her record against Sanchez-Vicario to 18-2.

Hingis bent low on match point to flip a winning volley down the line, but she also showed signs of rust.

She led 3-0 in the second set, then was plagued by unforced errors, allowing Sanchez-Vicario to draw within 3-2. But Hingis broke again to take control.

In other matches Tuesday, fifth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo beat wild-card entry Barbara Rittner 6-4, 6-0; Kim Clijsters eliminated Anastasia Myskina 6-4, 6-2; Alexandra Stevenson beat Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; and Barbara Schett eliminated Chanda Rubin 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.