DANIELA HANTUCHOVA, of Slovakia, defeated Vera Douchevina, the Russian wild card, 6-1, 6-4 yesterday in the opening round of the Swisscom Challenge in Zurich. Hantuchova will meet Maria Sharapova, the Wimbledon champion and No 3 seed, in the next round. The 17-year-old Russian arrived in Zurich having won nine consecutive matches and back-to-back titles in Seoul and Tokyo.

Sharapova moved up to the third seed after Lindsay Davenport, the world No 1 from the United States, withdrew with flu. The tournament took another blow when Serena Williams pulled out because of a lingering injury to her left knee. Amélie Mauresmo, whose five-week reign as the No 1 came to an end yesterday, is the top seed.

Sharapova is having to combine the glamour of the tennis circuit with finishing her education. After competing on court, she has to return to her hotel room and take out her books. “I’ve done it for a while now so I’m quite used to it,” she said. “In the hotel room I have a lot of time. It takes some self-discipline, but I’ve been home-schooled nearly all my life.

“There are a few times when you are lazy and don’t want to do anything. But when I’m home I have my Mum and she’s the one that gets on to me with the school work.”

In other first round matches, Nathalie Dechy, of France, beat Timea Bacsinszky, the 15-year-old Swiss wild card, 6-1, 6-4, Fabiola Zuluaga, of Colombia, defeated Mary Pierce, of France, 6-3, 6-2, and Alicia Molik, of Australia, overcame Silvia Farina Elia, of Italy, 6-1, 7-6.