Tough tennis

Hingis battles past Clijsters; Williams withdraws

Martina Hingis is coming back from a three-month injury layoff. AP

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Defending champion Martina Hingis overcame heat illness and tingling in her legs Friday to advance to the adidas International final, but Serena Williams couldn't recover from a twisted ankle and retired from her semifinal.

Hingis won an error-ridden semifinal 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 against No. 3 Kim Clijsters and then withdrew from the evening's doubles decider, where she was scheduled to partner Anna Kournikova against Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs.

Williams was trailing 4-5 in the first set when she finally succumbed to an injured right ankle and surrendered the result to fellow American Meghann Shaughnessy.

The No. 4 seed was leading 2-1 when she rolled on the ankle in the fourth game while charging in to play a Shaughnessy drop volley.

The former U.S. Open titlist limped to a courtside chair and, after getting treatment from a trainer, had the ankle strapped and continued the match.

But she dropped a service game to trail 3-4 and appeared to be favoring her right foot before deciding to call it a night.

Hingis expects to be fit for Saturday's final against Shaughnessy. She's avoided a much-awaiting clash against Williams, whom she was drawn to meet in the quarterfinals at the upcoming Australian Open.

The 21-year-old Swiss was drawn earlier Friday to meet Serena and Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati if she progresses to the final at Melbourne Park.

But Serena Williams' injury could deprive the season-opening Grand Slam event of another top seed, with top-ranked Lindsay Davenport already having withdrawn and with Hingis and Clijsters carrying injuries.

Hingis was not concerned about handing Stubbs and Raymond the doubles title in Sydney.

"I've played a lot of matches so shortly after coming back from injury -- maybe too much too soon," said Hingis, who is coming back from a three-month injury layoff. "I don't want to want to force myself over the limit."

Hingis, who had treatment for what appeared to be a leg injury when leading 5-0 in the third set, said she couldn't risk being injured in doubles on the eve of a final and with a Grand Slam tournament starting Monday. The leg injury was a slight "pinch" which is being treated with massage, she said.

In men's semis, Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela became the first qualifier to make a Sydney final when he beat Max Mirnyi of Belarus 6-4, 6-4. The 22-year-old Argentine will play No. 2 seed Roger Federer of Switzerland, who beat No. 3 Andy Roddick 7-6 (3), 6-4, on Saturday for the title.

Federer sealed his place in the final with an ace after an unlikely comeback in the first set. Roddick was serving for the first set at 5-4 until Federer broke his serve and upset the 19-year-old American's rhythm.

"I got a little worried there because he was returning really well and my serve was not working, so I'm really happy with the outcome," said Federer, who is 1-3 in ATP tour finals. "I played a good tiebreak and really started to serve well in the second set, so I'm really confident."

Roddick said he didn't feel confident on his serve, due to the wind, but wasn't expecting the trouble to last.

Service problems are "pretty rare," he said. "I felt like I was forcing it a bit and it wasn't clicking, but I have confidence that it will come right -- I'm not too worried about it."

Hingis dropped her opening service game and then traded breaks with Clijsters in a match that was marred by errors. In the 30 games, Hingis made 40 unforced errors and Clijsters made 66.

She had two match points at 15-40 in the eighth game before the Belgian got back to deuce.

But Hingis clinched the match when Clijsters put a forehand into the net, failing to stave off a fourth match point.

"I had a lot of chances to win the first set, I just couldn't take them -- couldn't take that extra step," Clijsters said. "I played well to fight back from 1-4 to win the second set. I must have to be down to play my best tennis."

Clijsters, who is seeded fourth for the Australian Open, said she was feeling discomfort from a nerve problem in her right arm, but planned to continue massage and treatment and expected to be fit for Melbourne.

Chela, who served a three month ban and lost his ranking last year after testing positive to a banned steroid but then climbed 700 places back into the top 100, had an easy run into the semis when Frenchman Nicolas Escude withdrew due to injury.

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