Hingis, the top seed, defeated Bovina, 6-4, 6-1. She has not lost since the semifinals of the U.S. Open, picking up singles crowns at Filderstadt, Zurich and Moscow. The "Swiss Miss" is in the midst of her best run since winning six consecutive titles to start the 1997 season.

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

The 17-year-old Bovina has played mostly on the ITF Challenger Circuit, winning three titles. On the WTA Tour, she reached the quarterfinals in Tashkent in June.

In the final first-round match this afternoon, eighth seed Jennifer Capriati of the United States rallied past countrywoman Meghann Shaughnessy, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. She meets Julie Halard-Decugis of France in the second round.

Capriati, the runner-up here in 1991, reached the final of last week's Bell Challenge in Quebec, losing to Chanda Rubin. She won the ninth title of her career last month at Luxembourg.

Despite the early exit, Shaughnessy is enjoying the best season of her career, capturing her first singles title last month at Shanghai.

In other action this afternoon, third seed Conchita Martinez of Spain made quick work of Canadian lucky loser Renata Kolbovic, 6-1, 6-3.

In tonight's matches, No. 7 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa faces another lucky loser in American Jennifer Hopkins.

In the highlight of the evening, Australian Open champion and second seed Lindsay Davenport of 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 brings a 6-0 lifetime record against Lisa Raymond as the Americans square off.

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.

First prize is $87,000.