ROME (AP) - Martina Hingis rolled through her first match at the Italian Open Wednesday as she returned from a one-month layoff.

The world's No. 1 player showed little rust in a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Natalie Dechy on the red clay at the Foro Italico.

``It's good to be back out there. Physically, I think I'm stronger than probably ever,'' Hingis said after beating the French player.

The Swiss teen-ager hadn't played singles since winning on clay at Hilton Head, S.C., in early April. She has said she relaxed her schedule so she would be fresh for the French Open, the lone Grand Slam event she hasn't won - and the only one played on clay.

Hingis next will play American Corina Morariu, who moved into the third round by beating Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania 6-2, 6-3.

Morariu, 21, has dropped just eight games in two matches, following up her first career WTA title last week in Bol, Croatia, on clay.

One seed was ousted when Austria's Sylvia Plischke defeated No. 12 Amanda Coetzer 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.

No. 9 Anna Kournikova and No. 10 Amelie Mauresmo both won under the lights after their matches were interrupted by rain for over an hour.

Kournikova fell behind early against Magui Serna, but took nine of the last 12 games to triumph 6-4, 6-3. Australian Open finalist Mauresmo fought past Elena Dementieva 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 in a match marked by 15 breaks of service.

Others advancing Wednesday included reigning French Open champion and No. 2 seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, No. 4 Mary Pierce, No. 5 Patty Schnyder, No. 7 Nathalie Tauziat, No. 8 Sandrine Testud, No. 13 Irina Spirlea, and No. 15 Conchita Martinez, a four-time winner in Rome.

All won in straight sets.

American Tara Snyder was eliminated by Anna Smashnova of Israel 6-3, 7-5.

Hingis picked up her fifth career Grand Slam tournament title at the Australian Open in January, and her three titles overall in 1999 are matched only by Venus Williams. Serena Williams, at 17 a year younger than Venus, has two titles; no other player has more than one.