Top seed Martina Hingis, looking to become the first female to win four consecutive titles in Melbourne during the Open Era, needed just 51 minutes to dispatch 116th-ranked Alicia Molik of Australia, 6-2, 6-3 today.

Second seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, one of only three seeds left in the bottom half of the draw, put together his second straight dominating performance in beating Stefan Koubek of Austria, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

In a match delayed by rain and finished beneath the retractable roof, Hingis won over 80 percent of her first and second serves, committed just nine unforced errors and broke Molik's serve four times. She was solid at the net, winning 24-of-28 approaches.

"I played very well all three matches," said Hingis, who has not lost a set. "I was really focused. I took it seriously and I had to. They were all younger than me -- youngsters coming up with nothing to lose. Today was about getting her serve back and getting into the game. I knew I wasn't allowed to lose a rally. Once we got into the game, I had to win the point."

Molik, whose serve reached 116 miles per hour, hit six aces but failed to convert on two break opportunities. Her second serve was a liability as the 18-year-old connected on only 36 percent (10-of-28).

Hingis has reached the fourth round in 15 of the past 16 Grand Slam events and won her 24th consecutive singles match at Melbourne Park. The last woman to win four straight Australian Open titles was Margaret Smith, who captured seven in a row from 1960-66.

Hingis' enthusiasm has not dimmed as she goes after her sixth career Grand Slam.

"No , defintely not," she said. "Even maybe more than the other years because now I know what the whole thing is all about. I'm playing well. I have been doing a lot for it to be where I am and you know, it's good work. What more can you enjoy when you play matches like that?"

Kafelnikov was just as business-like during his 82-minute win. He withstood 14 aces and 23 winners from Koubek as he countered with four and 19. He also won 79 percent of the points on serve and did not face a break point.

"I was quite a bit relieved when the weather turned out to be bad because I knew they would close the roof and I felt, if I played indoors, my chances would be a lot higher and the circumstances were in my favor," Kafelnikov said. "That's what I did. I served quite well and didn't give Stefan any chance."

Kafelnikov, who improved to 19-3 all-time in Melbourne, showed no effects of the back injury that first flared at an exhibition event last week but was still suffering from a strained groin. His next opponent is Belgian qualifier Christophe Rochus, who posted a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Max Mirnyi of Belarus.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Serena Williams of the United States bounced back from sluggish outings in her first two matches with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Sabine Appelmans of Belgium.

The third seed, is trying to become the seventh player in the Open Era to win the U.S. and Australian Opens in succession, blasted 17 winners and five aces.

"I've got a very big serve and there's no way I shouldn't be coming in after that," said Williams, who served-and-volled strongly to take the first in 20 minutes.

Five other women's seeds advanced to the round of 16.

Sixth seed Barbara Schett of Austria beat Florencia Labat of Argentina, 6-1, 6-3; 10th seed and 1998 runner-up Conchita Martinez of Spain defeated Jelena Kostanic of Croatia, 6-4, 6-4; and No. 12 Sandrine Testud of France saved three match points in the second set before overcoming Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Testud will play Hingis in the fourth round.

Also, No. 13 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain, a two-time finalist, shook off a slow start to get past Australian wild card Bryanne Stewart, 7-5, 6-1, and No. 16 Elena Likhovtseva of Russia also rallied for a 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over Els Callens of Belgium.

In an unseeded battle, American Kristina Brandi, who routed eighth seed Amanda Coetzer in the second round, topped Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).

Among the men, fourth seed Nicolas Kiefer of Germany eliminated Moroccan Karim Alami, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 and No. 12 Magnus Norman topped fellow Swede Jonas Bjorkman, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8). Norman has won six titles since the start of 1999.

Red-hot Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt extended his match winning streak to 13 with 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Adrian Voinea of Romania in an unseeded matchup. Hewitt won back-to-back titles in his homeland to tune up for Melbourne but now faces Norman in the fourth round.

"It was a lot tougher than it looked because I really felt I had my hands full," said the 18-year-old Hewitt, who finished with 12 forehand winners and broke Voinea's serve nine times. "I was probably a bit lucky in the second set and I was relieved to lead two sets to love."

"Norman is obviously playing very well," Hewitt added. "But I'm seeing the ball very early and with the way that I'm playing, I'm confident against anyone."

The intermittent rain caused a pair of matches involving unseeded men to be postponed until Sunday.

When the matches resume, South African Wayne Ferreira leads Francisco Clavet of Spain, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, and Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain is tied with Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 2-2.