Top-ranked Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Americans Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams headed the list of second-round winners, but California native Jennifer Capriati suffered a disappointing setback in her attempt to climb back into the top 10 in the rankings.

Hingis needed just over an hour to dispose of American Amy Frazier, 6-3, 6-3, while Davenport crushed Irina Spirlea of Romania, 6-0, 6-1, in 39 minutes. Williams, seeded third, had a tougher time as she opened defense of her title by struggling past childhood friend and 1999 Wimbledon semifinalist Alexandra Stevenson, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

The 12th-seeded Capriati, who reached the Australian Open semifinals in January, suffered a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 loss to Cara Black of Zimbabwe.

"I wish I could have won so I could see them (fans) a little more," Capriati said. "She (Black) definitely beat me today. I've never seen her play that well."

Hingis, the 1998 champion, overcame five double-faults to improve her season record to 16-2.

"For an opening-round match it was a solid performance," said Hingis, who lost in the quarterfinals last year. "I'm pretty happy."

Hingis leads Davenport by only 373 points in the latest WTA Tour rankings and it could have been even less had Davenport won their championship match at last week's State Farm Women's Classic in Scottsdale, Arizona. However, that clash never took place as heavy rain Sunday and Monday in the area canceled the match.

The Swiss teenager's third-round opponent will be Japan's Ai Sugiyama, who rallied past Olga Barabanschikova of Belarus, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, today.

In other second-round action, fourth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France downed countrywoman Anne-Gaelle Sidot, 6-2, 6-4; fifth seed Mary Pierce of France romped past Sonya Jeyaseelan of Canada, 6-1, 6-3; and sixth seed Conchita Martinez of Spain dispatched Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria, 6-3, 6-3.

Eighth seed Anna Kournikova of Russia, a semifinalist in her last two events, began her bid for her first singles title by defeating Denisa Chladkova of the Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-2.

Also, ninth seed Julie Halard-Decugis of France got past Angeles Montolio of Spain, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2; No. 11 Sandrine Testud, a semifinalist last year, held off Sarah Pitkowski, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, in an all-French battle; and No. 16 Elena Likhovtseva of Russia outdueled Sylvia Plischke of Austria, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5.

No. 13 Amelie Mauresmo of France was forced to retire with a lower back strain after losing the first three games of her match with Belgian teenager Kim Clijsters.

No. 14 Anke Huber of Germany saw her season slump continue as Elena Dementieva of Russia recorded a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 upset. Huber has lost six of her first seven matches in 2000.

The men's portion of this event begins Monday. First prize for the women's champion is $330,000.