Hingis to face Venus Williams in quarterfinals

Hingis celebrates her fourth round thrashing of Anke Huber Keystone

Martina Hingis heads into the quarterfinals at Wimbledon today against arguably her toughest opponent so far, Venus Williams.

Switzerland’s world number one cruised into the last eight with a ruthless fourth round performance against Germany’s Anke Huber. Hingis allowed her opponent just one game in the opening set and was barely more charitable in the second as she cruised to a straight sets victory (6-1, 6-2). The match lasted just 53 minutes.

Huber was seeded 11th for the Grand Slam tournament, but was never expected to trouble Hingis. The German player had managed to win just once in their previous 11 encounters, and that solitary triumph dated back to 1995.

While Huber has never made it beyond the fourth round, Hingis is looking in good shape to repeat her Wimbledon win of three years ago and, in doing so, take her 30th singles title.

So far Hingis has not dropped a set at this year’s tournament. However things are likely to get tougher against Williams. The Swiss player has lost five times in career meetings with the American, winning nine times. Hingis is yet to be beaten by Williams in a Grand Slam event although today’s encounter will be their first match against each other on grass.

With the younger of the Williams sisters, Serena, also in the top half of the draw, Hingis could have to beat both women to make it into the final – a feat which the Swiss player has never managed before.

by Mark Ledsom