Hingis will face third-seeded Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic on Saturday after today's 6-0, 7-6 (7-0) triumph. Novotna cruised past No. 16 Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia, 6-2, 6-4.

Also today, sixth-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland defeated No. 14 Elena Likhovtseva of Russia, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3). No. 7 Anna Kournikova of Russia advanced when unseeded German Andrea Glass retired with a left hip flexor strain. Kournikova was leading 6-2, 2-1.

Hingis, 18, is making her first appearance at Hilton Head since earning the title here in 1997. The three-time defending Australian Open has not won a championship since defeating South Africa's Amanda Coetzer at the Pan Pacific Open in Japan on February 7.

"The last three or four days, I didn't play my best tennis," Hingis said. "But I've kind of managed to get through. Today, I think it was a much better effort."

Today's match with Zvereva marked the first time the two met on clay in WTA Tour action. They played on the surface in a Fed Cup match in 1995 with Zvereva winning, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Hingis won two of the other three matches between the two, including a 6-3, 6-2 triumph last year in San Diego.

Zvereva, who turns 28 in two weeks, is fourth all-time in match victories at the Family Circle Cup with 25, trailing Chris Evert (50), Martina Navratilova (36) and Gabriela Sabatini (27).

Novotna matched her best effort at this event -- a semifinal appearance in 1996. She is 3-0 in her career against Nagyova, including a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 triumph at the Australian Open.

"I started to play well right from the beginning, and didn't give her (Nagyova) a chance to come back into the match," Novotna said. "I took her very seriously and played some solid claycourt tennis. I'm very pleased with my performance today."

Nagyova had Novotna on the ropes in Prague last year, leading 4-0 in the final set before losing.

Kournikova, who is debuting at this event, will face Schnyder on Saturday. The Russian teenager matched her best tournament result of the season, having also reached the semifinals in Oklahoma City.

Glass had the most successful event of her season. She had advanced to the third round at the Australian Open before losing to Kournikova.

Schnyder avenged a straight-sets loss at Hannover with her first win in three tries over Likhovtseva.

First prize is $150,000.