SYDNEY, Australia -- Sixth seed Lindsay Davenport dispatched Australian wild card Nicole Pratt, 6-3, 6-3, on Sunday in opening-round action at the $932,000 adidas International.

Davenport missed the first six months last season following knee surgery. She bounced back to reach four finals and at least the semifinals in seven of nine events.

The 26-year-old American is making her eighth appearance in nine years at this event. She won the title in 1999 and reached the finals on four other occasions. Davenport was the only seeded player in action Sunday.

Top seed Jennifer Capriati of the United States, No. 2 Kim Clijsters of Belgium, No. 3 Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium and fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia received first-round byes.

The men's draw, headed by Russia's Marat Safin, does not get under way until Monday.

Also Sunday, South African Amanda Coetzer overcame Japan's Ai Sugiyama, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Patty Schnyder of Switzerland rallied past Paola Suarez of Argentina, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; and Russia's Tatiana Panova defeated Australian wild card Evie Dominikovic, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

This event is another tune-up for the Australian Open, which begins Jan. 13.