Hingis is on her best run since winning six consecutive title to start the 1997 season. She has not lost since the semifinals of the U.S. Open, picking up singles crowns at Filderstadt, Zurich, and Moscow.

Overall, the 20-year-old Hingis has won a WTA Tour-leading eight titles this season and owns a 70-9 match record.

Australian Open champion Lindsay Davenport, the second seed from the United States, hopes to regain her energy this week as she prepares to defend her title here and next week in New York at the Chase Championships.

Davenport stopped Venus Williams' 35-match winning streak and ended her own title drought three weeks ago at the Generali Ladies Open. She had gone 0-6 in championship matches since her last tournament win at Indian Wells in March.

However, Davenport, who beat Hingis last year to win this event, pulled out of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow the following week due to fatigue.

With the top four seeds, including Conchita Martinez of Spain and France's Nathalie Tauziat, receiving first-round byes, No. 7 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa is the only seeded player in action today. Coetzer, who has not played since a second-round loss at Zurich, plays luck loser Erika De Lone of the United States.

Tonight, Lisa Raymond of the United States faces German qualifier Vanessa Henke and Kristina Brandi and lucky loser Holly Parkinson square off in an all-American battle.

Also today, Greta Arn, a German qualifier, meets France's Julie Halard-Decugis; Elena Bovina of Russia goes against lucky loser Katie Schlukebir of the United States; Lilia Osterloh encounters fellow American Jennifer Hopkins, a lucky loser; and Swiss qualifier Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian takes on Canada's Renata Kolbovic, another lucky loser.

Fifth seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain withdrew with fatigue and Elena Likhovtseva, who played in Sunday's final at Leipzig, pulled out due to a back injury.

"I'm very tired at the moment," Sanchez-Vicario said. "I've played a lot of matches and tournaments and I need a rest before the Chase Championships. I also have a problem with my hand and need to take a break to make sure it's OK."

With Sanchez-Vicario's withdrawal, Chanda Rubin of the United States becomes the ninth seed. Rubin captured her first title of the year on Sunday at the Bell Challenge in Quebec.

Anna Kournikova of Russia and Jennifer Capriati of the United States, who fell to Rubin on Sunday, round out the top eight seeds at this event, which offers a first prize of $87,000.