Russian Maria Sharapova breezed through her opening match at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, crushing French qualifier Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-1 6-0.

Sharapova, who won her third grand slam at the Australian Open in January, broke Cohen-Aloro twice in the first set and three times in the second to wrap up the match in 58 minutes.

"This has been an incredible start to the year and it's great to be playing in my second home of California," said the Russian, who is unbeaten in 15 WTA matches this season.

The only problem for Sharapova on a sun-drenched day was the swirling wind.

"A couple of weeks ago we were playing a tournament in Doha and I've never played tennis in so much wind," she added.

"You get used to it and it was the same for my opponent."

Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia began the defence of her title by sweeping past American wildcard Angela Haynes 6-1 6-2.

The 24-year-old Hantuchova, who won the tournament for a second time by beating Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in last year's final, broke three times in each set to seal victory in just over an hour.

"That felt great," the fifth seed said.

"It was an incredible feeling to be back on the center court."

Hantuchova advances to a third round match with China's Zheng Jie , who upset 30th-seeded Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko 6-2 6-4.

"It definitely feels like it's my home out there," the Slovakian added.

"I wish I could play every match of the year on this court. I don't know what it is. I guess it's the bounce. It's not too slow, not too fast."

Second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova also cruised through her first encounter, overpowering fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-1 6-1 in only 53 minutes in an evening match.

In other matches, eighth-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia scraped past American Jill Craybas 7-6 7-5 and Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine beat Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 7-6.

Peng Shuai of China crushed Italian Karin Knapp 6-1 6-3 to set up a third-round encounter with Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska who defeated Ukrainian Mariya Koryttseva 6-1 7-6.

Reuters