|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
On course Hingis moves on to fourth round with easy win
Posted: Friday June 30, 2000 11:30 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Top seed Martina Hingis survived early service problems on Friday before stamping her authority on Croatia's Silvija Talaja 6-2, 6-2 at Wimbledon. She now meets German 11th seed Anke Huber and the Swiss teenager says she is in the mood to take on all-comers, including the Williams sisters. "I am feeling very focused, very concentrated and physically I am feeling 100 percent," the 19-year-old said after her third round victory. "Going into the second week I am feeling great," she smiled. But the 1997 champion did not have everything her own way on Friday. Against 22nd-ranked Talaja on Court One, she was put on the back foot from the start by her opponent's hard hitting. The first three service games were breaks and Hingis was forced to fight off two break points in the fourth game before finally holding and opening up a lead against the powerful 22-year-old. Coming into the net more, and cutting off Talaja's rasping groundstrokes with drive volleys, Hingis served out the first set 6-2 in 30 minutes. She broke immediately in the first game of the second set and that was all the momentum she needed to go on and seal victory comfortably in just over an hour. Last year, Hingis was dumped out of the first round here by Australian qualifier Jelena Dokic 6-2 6-0 in one of the biggest shocks in the history of the championships. This year Hingis, champion in 1997, says experience is helping to drive her on. "Sure, it gives me an extra kick to do well this year," she said. "I have nothing to lose...I have nothing to defend this year -- I am in a great situation. "I am getting more and more confidence each match I play, and a lot more consistency too. "There is still a long way to go but I am feeling very confident." If the seedings go to plan, Hingis will meet fifth seed Venus Williams in the quarterfinals and sister Serena Williams in the semis. And she knows that will be tough. "Venus is playing well ... she's getting better and better the more matches she plays," she said. Asked if U.S. Open champion Serena could win Wimbledon this year despite injuries hampering her preparation, Hingis said: "I hope not -- let's just say I will have something to say about that."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
