Hingis into final four

Hingis needed just 68 minutes to power past Schiavone Keystone

Martina Hingis is feeling better than ever about her French Open chances, after reaching the semi-finals of the prestigous Grand Slam tournament with a straight sets win over Italy's Francesca Schiavone.

After brushing Schiavone aside 6-1 in the opening set, the Swiss superstar faced a slightly tougher challenge in the second set, but was still able to wrap up victory (6-1, 6-4) in just over an hour.

“I played a good first set,” Hingis said afterwards. “Then I let my chances slip and she got back in the match. Schiavone’s the same age as me (20), and she’s going to be a dangerous player.”

The world number one has met just one seeded player, France’s Sandrine Testud, during her passage to the semi-finals. But there seemed little sign of complacency as Hingis assessed her chances of winning her first ever French Open title.

“I haven’t really been tested,” she admitted on Tuesday, “but it’s nice to come through a draw like this. This year, because I’m not playing doubles, I’m feeling good physically and mentally. This will be my fifth French Open semi in a row and I’ve never felt as good as I do now.”

Hingis is well aware, though, that things are likely to get a lot tougher in the semi-finals where she is due to face American fourth seed Jennifer Capriati. For Hingis the semi-final encounter will offer a chance for revenge following her defeat by Capriati in this year’s Australian Open.

Capriati showed great fighting spirit in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, beating fellow American Serena Williams in three sets (6-2, 5-7, 6-2).

swissinfo with agencies