Swiss roll

Hingis, Seles reach Pan Pacific semifinals

Martina Hingis is looking to win the Pan Pacific event for the fourth time in six years. AP

TOKYO (AP) -- Top seed Martina Hingis turned her game up a notch Friday to defeat Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3, 6-2 and advance to the semifinals of the US$1.22 million Toray Pan Pacific tennis tournament.

Tied 3-3 in the first set at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Hingis reeled off two straight aces to win the seventh game and then broke Tanasugarn before serving out the set.

"I think that was the turning point in the match," said Hingis. "I didn't serve that well at first but I was able to lift the level of the game when I needed to and then I cruised through the second set."

Hingis, currently fourth in the world rankings, is looking to win this event for the fourth time in six years and will take on No. 5 seed Silvia Farina Elia of Italy in Saturday's semifinal.

"I'll have to be mentally tougher in the next match," said Hingis. "But I've played a lot of tennis recently and I feel pretty confident about my chances here." Hingis lost to American Jennifer Capriati in the final of the Australian Open on Saturday.

World No. 2 Lindsay Davenport and sixth-ranked Serena Williams pulled out of the tournament due to injury.

In an epic baseline struggle, No. 3 seed Monica Seles of the United States defeated compatriot Alexandra Stevenson 7-6 (9), 7-6 (9) to book a showdown in the semifinals with Russia's Anna Kournikova, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Anne Kramer of Luxembourg.

"It was a very close match," said Seles. "I got a few lucky breaks. She was up 6-5 in the second set and missed a volley which allowed me to get back in it."

The hard-hitting Stevenson had 11 set points but was a victim of too many unforced errors and some bad luck.

Leading 10-9 in the second tie breaker, Seles finally put the 1 hour, 55 minute match away when Stevenson's backhand return went out.

Stevenson, who had to qualify to get into this tournament and is 49th in the world rankings, turned in a gutsy performance and had the crowd in her corner for most of the match. She had 13 aces but also double-faulted eight times.

"I'm unhappy with the result because I've been working hard to get seeded for the French Open," said Stevenson. "But I'm happy that I competed well and had chances to win against such a good player and I'll try to build on that for the next tournament."

In other quarterfinals Friday, No. 5 Elia defeated fourth-seeded Sandrine Testud of France 6-4, 6-3.

Kournikova, who defeated compatriot Elena Dementieva in a tough match Thursday, said she is looking forward to playing Seles in the semifinals.

"I've had some tough opponents here. I played well today in both sets and I'm looking forward to playing Monica tomorrow. She's an unbelievable player and it's always nice to play a top 10 player," said the 20-year-old Russian.

 

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