Classy Hingis through
Afp, Gold Coast
Former world number one Martina Hingis showed she would be a major player at this year's Australian Open as she cruised into the semi-finals of the Australian Women's Hardcourt championships here Thursday. Hingis, who made her comeback at this tournament last year, was clinical as she dispatched Colombia's Catalina Castano 6-3, 6-1 in 68 minutes. She now faces unseeded Italian Tathiana Garbin in Friday's semifinals following Garbin's 7-5, 6-2 win over Russia's Elena Vesnina. The other semi-final will be between second seed Dinara Safina and fifth seeded Israeli Shahar Peer. Safina knocked out a gallant Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, while Peer caused an upset by knocking out Serbian third seed Ana Ivanovic in three sets 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Hingis played down suggestions she was an overwhelming favourite for the tournament and said the other three semi-finalists were all in with a chance. "It's just great semi-finals," Hingis said. "The girls are great to watch -- young and willing to work hard. It's some kind of future out there (for women's tennis)." Hingis will play the WTA tournament in Sydney next week in her final warm up for the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.
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