Hingis, 18, has compiled a 26-4 record on the WTA Tour this year, winning three singles titles, including her third straight Australian Open crown. She was successful in her claycourt season debut last month, defeating doubles partner and fellow teenager Anna Kournikova to capture the Family Circle Cup in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain, who will defend her French Open title in three weeks, is the second seed. After being sidelined for three months with a wrist injury, Sanchez-Vicario won her first title of the year at the Egypt Classic two weeks ago. She is coming off a semifinal loss to eventual champion Venus Williams at last week's Betty Barclay Cup in Hamburg, Germany.

Williams, the third seed and last year's runner-up, claimed her third singles title of the year with Sunday's win over Mary Pierce of France. The 18-year-old Williams won at Oklahoma City in late February and knocked off younger sister Serena in the finals of the Lipton Championships in March.

Pierce, the 1997 champion and fourth seed, suffered back pain which hampered her mobility during her 6-0, 6-3 loss to Venus Williams on Sunday. Her victory here two years ago ended Conchita Martinez's four-year reign at this event.

Switzerland's Patty Schnyder is the fifth seed, followed by Serena Williams, who won back-to-back titles in Paris and Indian Wells, California before her loss to Venus. The younger Williams will be making her season debut on the dirt.

Rounding out the eight seeds are Frenchwomen Nathalie tauziat and Sandrine Testud. The top eight seeds received first-rround byes.

Kournikova will headline today's opening-round action as she faces Italy's No. 2 player, Rita Grande. In another match of note, 15th-ranked Dominique Van Roost of Belgium will meet American Nicole Arendt. Martinez, the first player ever to win four straight Italian Opens, will battle Italy's top player, Silvia Farina.