Hingis, the 1997 champion, had suffered back-to-back quarterfinal defeats after winning consecutive events. She claimed the Australian Open title and the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo but lost in Paris three weeks ago and was taken out by American Chanda Rubin at Indian Wells.

In addition, a pair of former champions advanced to the third round. Third seed and two-time winner Monica Seles improved to 23-4 lifetime at the Lipton with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Brie Rippner of the United States.

Seventh-seeded Steffi Graf of Germany continued her success at the Lipton, crushing American Jennifer Capriati, 6-0, 6-1, tonight. Graf has been one of the most successful players at the Lipton, winning five titles and compiling a 57-5 record.

Nine other seeded women were in action today. No. 12 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland easily got past South African Mariaan de Swardt, 6-3, 6-3; 14th-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France took a 6-2, 3-0, lead before China's Fang Li retired with an injury; and No. 18 Conchita Martinez of Spain rolled over Slovenia's Tina Pisnik, 6-2, 6-1. No. 21 Julie Halard-Decugis of France, 23rd-seeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva, 24th-seeded Rubin, and 26th seed Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia also advanced to the third round.

However, 11th seed Sandrine Testud of France was downed by Germany's Marlene Weingartner, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3), and Croatian Mirjana Lucic knocked off No. 17 Dominique van Roost of Belgium, 6-4, 6-3.

The women's winner pockets $265,000.