In tonight's other featured match, men's No. 4 Pete Sampras -- a four-time champion -- took the first set, 6-3, from Justin Gimelstob in an all-American second-round battle.

Earlier, third seed Venus Williams of the United States extended her winning streak to 21 matches as she routed Kveta Hrdlickova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-1, in second-round action.

Hingis needed only 44 minutes, producing 29 winners against only four unforced errors.

"I never played Kristina, so I didn't know what to expect," said Hingis, who enjoyed her first night match of the tournament. "I like playing at night. It's kind of a relaxed atmosphere."

Although without a Grand Slam title this year, Hingis has won five tournaments in 2000, compiling a 54-8 record. She was runner-up at the Australian Open and advanced to the French Open semifinals and Wimbledon quarterfinals.

The 1997 winner went 8-2 in the summer hardcourt season, capturing the du Maurier Open two weeks ago.

Sampras took a 13-0 career record in U.S. Open night matches into this evening's contest.

The 28-year-old secured his first career Grand Slam title at Flushing in 1990 -- the first of four U.S. Open crowns -- but has not won here since 1996. He did not play at this event last season after injuring his back in practice but is 53-7 lifetime at the U.S. Open.

Sampras became the all-time leader in Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon, where he claimed his 13th major and record-tying seventh Wimbledon crown. He also won the Ericsson Open, a hardcourt event, in April.

Williams dominated play with her powerful serve and groundstokes and needed only 48 minutes to complete the rout. She had nine aces and four double faults and produced 29 winners against 23 unforced errors. Hrdlickova, on the defensive throughout, could manage only two winners and made 11 unforced errors.

Considered the heavy favorite for the year's final Grand Slam, Williams has ridden a four-tournament winning streak into New York. Her remarkable run started at Wimbledon, where she defeated Hingis, younger sister Serena and Lindsay Davenport in consecutive matches to capture her first career Grand Slam singles title.

"I'm pretty happy with the way I played," Williams said. "I felt my forehand down the line right now isn't where I want it to be. I feel I'm rushing a little bit, not enough top spin. But other than that, I feel confident, especially in the big points. I feel like it's going to go my way.

"I think also today I had a few service games when I was down love-30 and I was able to serve myself out of it or hit myself out of it, whichever way. So that was a good point. The first match, I didn't play very well. In this match, I played much better, especially as far as serving better. I think I returned a little better, too."

The 20-year-old Williams dominated the summer hardcourt season, winning titles at the Bank of the West Classic, Acura Classic and Pilot Pen Tennis event.

A finalist here in 1997, Williams is 26-3 since returning from a four-month layoff due to tendinitis in both wrists.

In other women's second-round action, No. 6 and two-time champion Monica Seles defeated Anne Kremer of Luxembourg, 6-3, 6-4; eighth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France beat Maria Alejandra Vento of Venezuela, 6-3, 6-1; and ninth seed and 1994 winner Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain took out Canadian Sonya Jeyaseelan, 6-4, 6-1.

Also, No. 11 Sandrine Testud of France ousted Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova, 6-4, 6-3, No. 13 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa rallied from a set and a break down to beat Jana Kandarr of Germany, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and No. 15 Jennifer Capriati of the United States dumped Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia, 6-2, 6-2.

In first-round men's action, third seed Magnus Norman of Sweden held off American Paul Goldstein, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

Norman is fresh off winning his ATP Tour-tying fourth title of the year on Sunday at the Hamlet Cup on Long Island. The win was the saving grace of a poor summer hardcourt season.

The 24-year-old Norman played in his first career Grand Slam final at the French Open in June, losing to Gustavo Kuerten. He was a semifinalist at the Australian Open in January.

Sixth seed Marat Safin of Russia defeated Thierry Guardiola of France, 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4. Safin had 25 aces, including a 138 mile-per-hour bullet. Safin has won three titles this season, including the Tennis Masters Series stop in Toronto -- a hardcourt event.

The 20-year-old from Moscow started 2000 with a 1-5 record, but after taking on former player Andrei Chesnokov as coach, he captured consecutive events in Barcelona and Mallorca before losing in the final of the Tennis Masters Series stop in Hamburg.

Since working with another former Russian player, Alexander Volkov, he defeated Sampras en route to his triumph at Toronto and reached the final at Indianapolis.

Safin reached the fourth round in his first U.S. Open two years ago but was bounced in the second round in 1999.

Also, 10th seed Cedric Pioline of France, a semifinalist here last season, eliminated Sargis Sargsian of Armenia, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, and 15th seed and 1998 runner-up Mark Philippoussis of Australia rolled past Albert Portas of Spain, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

In unseeded first-round matches of interest, Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States rallied from two sets down to defeat 18-year-old countryman Mardy Fish, 5-7, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Fish made his U.S. Open debut after receiving a wild card entry into the main draw.

Greg Rusedski of Britain, the 1997 finalist, ripped Magnus Gustafsson of Sweden, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Rusedski stopped a three-match losing streak in his first match in more than a month due to a foot injury.

Former world No. 1 Carlos Moya of Spain, who has been plagued by an ailing back, looked solid in beating Mikael Tillstrom of Sweden, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Moya reached the semifinals here in 1998, the same season he won the French Open.

On Thursday, top seed Andre Agassi of the United States plays Frenchman Arnaud Clement and Venus' sister, defending champion Serena Williams, takes on Russia's Nadejda Petrova in second-round action.