The second-seeded Seles, who had an opening-round bye in the $1.05 million event, made several unforced errors in the first set as she went for the lines. The 25-year-old Seles found the angles in the second and third sets and wore down her 23-year-old opponent.

``I was more nervous than usual, but I found my form,'' said Seles, who withdrew from last week's Acura Classic because of an injured forearm and was bothered by a stress fracture in her right foot during Federation Cup matches in late July.

``I just started hitting five days ago so I'm not feeling that confident and I'm the kind of person who needs to hit a lot of balls to feel confident.

``Today I wasn't going for my shots. Once I lost the first set I started going for it more.''

Seles has won the du Maurier every year since 1995, including last year when she beat Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain in the final. On Wednesday, Seles will play No. 15 Elena Likhovsteva of Russia, who eliminated Maureen Drake of Canada, 6-0, 7-5 Tuesday night.

Seles is testing her foot and arm this week in preparation for the U.S. Open. She said she didn't feel pressure to play while injured just to keep her streak of du Maurier titles alive.

``If it hurt I would default tomorrow,'' she said. ``I learned that lesson in Fed Cup really well.''

Top-seeded Martina Hingis beat Corina Morariu 6-0, 6-3 in a second-round match and will meet 16th-seeded Chanda Rubin in the third round. Rubin was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 winner over Nathalie Dechy of France on Tuesday.

``This is one I have never won, so I'm kind of pumped,'' said Hingis, who lost in the semifinals to Seles last year.

In other matches Tuesday, third-seeded Mary Pierce of France and sixth-seeded Amanda Coetzer of South Africa advanced to the third round. Pierce beat Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, while Coetzer defeated countrywoman Joannette Kruger 6-1, 6-2.

Anne-Gaelle Sidot of France was a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 winner over American Amy Frazier.