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Seles, Hingis race ahead

Defending champion Monica Seles sailed past Barbara Paulus of Austria 6-1, 6-2 in just 49 minutes of on court action at the $450,000 Acura Classic women's tournament.

French Open champion Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, however, had to struggle to get past Japan's Ai Sugiyama 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. And in the night's top-billed game, top seed and world number one Martina Hingis spoiled 1997 French Open champion Iva Majoli's 21st birthday celebration by waltzing to a 6-3, 6-3 win.

All three stars moved into the quarterfinals.

Fifth-seeded Nathalie Tauziat of France, the 1998 Wimbledon finalist, ousted compatriot Alexandra Fusai 6-3, 6-3, to make the last eight.

Sugiyama, who upset former world number one Steffi Graf last week at the Toshiba Classic in San Diego, said Sanchez Vicario's speed was the major factor in her defeat.

"She ran well today," Sugiyama said. "I thought I played pretty good. If I could have hit the ball harder and past her, I could have won."

Seles meanwhile showed no effects of a stiff back that bothered her in San Diego last week, and almost caused her to withdraw from this event, which she has won thrice in a row.

"It's a lot better than last week," said Seles, who has been receiving physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the tightness. "It's still not 100 per cent, but it does help when I play during the day because it keeps it a lot warmer all the time."

Seles' punishing groundstrokes were on song as she ran her record against Paulus to 4-0/