Hoping to begin a run that will bring him a record 13th grand slam title, the top-seeded Sampras easily dispatched the Czech Republic's Jiri Vanek in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, in the first match of the day on Centre Court.

Sampras has lost just one match at the All-England Club over the last seven years, a quarterfinal setback in 1996 to eventual winner Richard Krajicek of the Netherlands.

Last year, the 28-year-old American dropped only two sets, was broken just five times and fired 108 aces en route to the title. He beat countryman Andre Agassi in the final.

Sampras is tied with Roy Emerson for the all-time lead in grand slam singles titles with 12. He owns nine grasscourt tournament wins and is 86-15 lifetime on the surface.

By winning this event, Sampras would tie William Renshaw for the lead in Wimbledon men's singles titles.

Hingis, also seeded first and fresh off winning her fourth title of the year at the Heineken Trophy in the Netherlands, posted a 6-1, 6-2 over Angeles Montolio of Spain.

Last year, Hingis lost to qualifier Jelena Dokic, 6-2, 6-0 in the first round in perhaps the most embarrassing moment of her highly successful career. She played the match without mother-coach Melanie Molitor as the pair took a brief time apart.

In 1997 at just 16 years old, Hingis became the youngest female in the Open Era (since 1968) to win a Wimbledon singles crown. She fell to eventual winner Jana Novotna in the semifinals in 1998.

Seven other seeded men are in action of the first day of the fortnight.

No. 6 Cedric Pioline, the runner-up here three years ago, got by Norway's Christian Ruud, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, while 11th-seeded Richard Krajicek eliminated Germany's Michael Kohlmann, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).

Also, third seed and French Open runner-up Magnus Norman of Sweden meets Mark Woodforde of Australia and seventh seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, who beat Sampras two weeks ago in the final of the Stella Artois Championships, takes on American Jan-Michael Gambill.

Ninth-seeded Thomas Enqvist of Sweden goes against Markus Hantschk of Germany; No. 14 Greg Rusedski of Britain plays Vincent Spadea of the United States, who has lost a record 21 consecutive matches; and No. 16 Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador meets Slava Dosedel of the Czech Republic.

Several seeded women make their grasscourt debut today after opting to pass on participating in warmup events.

The Williams sisters, in the same half of the draw, have both already advanced. No. 5 Venus ousted Kvetoslava Hrdlickova of the Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-1, while eighth-seeded Serena sent home Sweden's Asa Carlsson, 6-3, 6-2.

Venus Williams has played in only three events this season due to tendinitis in both wrists. Serena Williams, the reigning U.S. Open champion, missed last year's event with a bad case of the flu.

No. 11 Anke Huber of Germany was a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Britain's Jo Ward, 7-5, 6-2.

Fourth seed and 1994 winner Conchita Martinez of Spain, who has not played since her loss to Mary Pierce in the French Open final, faces Anne Kremer of Luxembourg.

In addition, 10th seed Sandrine Testud of France squares off against Russia's Anna Kournikova; No. 14 Julie Halard-Decugis of France meets Kristie Boogert of the Netherlands; and No. 15 Barbara Schett encounters Olga Barabanschikova of Belarus.