TOKYO, Feb 2: Maria Sharapova on Thursday kicked off her campaign to defend her title at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, fending off a challenge from US doubles specialist Lisa Raymond in the second round.

The Russian top seed, playing her first match of the week, got off to a slow start by dropping her service in the opening game, but soon steadied herself and cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 win over the veteran American qualifier.

In the next round, Sharapova will face Australia’s Samantha Stosur, a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 winner over sixth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, the last player to have beaten Sharapova in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, former world number one Martina Hingis continued her comeback run by eliminating third seed Nathalie Dechy of France, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.

The 25-year-old Hingis, who has never lost to Dechy in five encounters, retired in 2002 due to foot and ankle injuries but returned to the tour this season.

She reached the semifinals at the Gold Coast in her comeback debut and lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium at Sydney in the first round.

But she reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last month and won the mixed doubles title with Mahesh Bhupathi of India.

In the quarter-finals Friday, Hingis will take on Maria Kirilenko of Russia, who eliminated eighth seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Montenegro, 6-4, 6-4.

Seventh seed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia safely won through to the next round, beating Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, 6-2, 7-5.

Fourth seed Anastasia Myskina of Russia, the 2004 French Open champion, earned the last quarterfinal spot against Likhovtseva when she breezed past Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4.

Second round

Anastasia Myskina bt Klara Koukalova 6-4 6-4; Maria Sharapova bt Lisa Raymond 6-4 6-4; Martina Hingis bt Nathalie Dechy 4-6 7-5 6-2; Samantha Stosur bt Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 7-6(5) 6-2; Maria Kirilenko bt Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-4; Elena Likhovtseva bt Marion Bartoli 6-2 7-5.