Hingis storms into semis

MELBOURNE, Jan 26: Martina Hingis, who considers the Australian Open her own personal tournament, romped through to the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario on Wednesday, reports AP.

It was the three-time defending champion's 26th consecutive victory at Australian Opens, and her 13th win in a row against Sanchez-Vicario.

She next plays another Spaniard, 1998 Australian finalist Conchita Martinez, who needed 2 1/2 hours to wear down Elena Likhovtseva with heavy topspin and relentless retrieving in a 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 victory.

In the other women's semifinal Thursday, a resurgent Jennifer Capriati meets No 2 Lindsay Davenport.

Hingis needed only 45 minutes to outplay No 13 Sanchez-Vicario, who made 24 unforced errors and managed only 6 winners to Hingis' 19.

The 28-year-old Sanchez-Vicario, who has won four Grand Slam tournaments in 49 appearances, scored her only victory over Hingis in 1996. Hingis, 19, is playing in her 21st Grand Slam, and already has five titles.

Martinez said that in her quarterfinal, "I was never comfortable. I was a little bit tired and it was very tough to go so long. But I will get some rest and hopefully be fit for tomorrow."

She has not beaten Hingis in their last seven meetings, including the 1998 final here.

Against Likhovtseva, "on the important points, I played really well and very aggressive," said Martinez, the 1994 Wimbledon champion.

Likhovtseva, who beat No 3 Serena Williams to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, saved two match points at 6-5 in the final set.

But in the 15th game, she started with a double fault and committed three more errors on the next four points, giving Martinez another break.

The 10th-seeded Spaniard reached her third match point with a dipping shot that Likhovtseva volleyed into the net, and then finished with a forehand passing shot down the line.

She now has reached the semifinals for the 10th time in her 42 Grand Slam tournaments.

The 27-year-old Martinez generally frustrated Likhovtseva with deep, heavy topspin shots, but the 16th-seeded Russian put together some aggressive points at the end of the second set.

A series of winners down the line brought Martinez back from 40-0 in the final set's 11th game and gave her a first chance to serve for the match. But Likhovtseva used net attacks to break back from 40-15.

After each player struggled to hold serve once more, Likhovtseva faltered.

Martinez's 1994 triumph at Wimbledon came against Martina Navratilova, who had won that tournament nine times.