FILDERSTADT, Germany -- Justine Henin-Hardenne beat Conchita Martinez 6-0, 7-6 (1) Tuesday at the Porsche Grand Prix, a tournament where the Belgian can take the No. 1 ranking.

Henin-Hardenne, the U.S Open and French Open champion, overpowered the Spaniard in the first set. She let a 5-2 lead in the second set slip away before playing a nearly flawless tiebreaker in the second-round match.

"It was a nearly perfect first set," Henin-Hardenne said. "It was unbelievable, one of the best sets of my career."

Henin-Hardenne can become No. 1 if she reaches the final and top-ranked Kim Clijsters does not. Henin-Hardenne also can move to the top if she beats her countrywoman in the final. Clijsters has been slowed by a sore ankle.

"It's on my mind to be No. 1, it's a goal," Henin-Hardenne said. "But the most important thing is to focus on the court -- it's a tough tournament."

In the first round, Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia beat Lisa Raymond of the United States 6-3, 6-4; Mary Pierce of France downed Cara Black of Zimbabwe 6-2, 6-0; and Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria topped Jelena Dokic of Serbia-Montenegro 7-5, 6-0; and Elena Bovina of Russia defeated Fabiola Zuluaga of Colombia 6-2, 6-4.

Dokic, ranked fourth a year ago, has failed to win consecutive matches in 11 straight events since Wimbledon and has tumbled to No. 25.

The field is one of the strongest on the tour this year. Paola Suarez, ranked No. 17, had to compete in qualifying to reach the main draw -- just the second Top 20 player in history forced to do so.