Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Top-ranked Martina Hingis beat Anna Kournikova 6-4, 6-0 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Advanta Championship in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Top-ranked Martina Hingis beat Anna Kournikova 6-4, 6-0 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Advanta Championship in Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Hingis took 18 minutes to finish off Kournikova in the second set, surrendering just seven points.
"She played the same strokes and I reacted on it better," Hingis said. "She didn't have weapons anymore because I was always there and had a better answer."
Kournikova, the popular Russian ranked 10th in the world, failed to press Hingis after dropping the well-played first set.
"A set like that takes a lot out of you and it's difficult to get back on track when you lose," Kournikova said. "And with Martina, you know if you don't win the first set it's going to be tough. Then she's really in control."
Hingis has advanced to the semifinals in seven straight tournaments, winning the last three and four of the last five.
Hingis will face Nathalie Tauziat of France in the semifinals. Tauziat, seeded fourth, beat French compatriot Julie Halard-Decugis 6-4, 6-4.
In the other quarterfinals, defending champion Lindsay Davenport beat seventh-seeded Amanda Coetzer of South Africa 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, and third-seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain defeated Holly Parkinson of the united States 6-2, 6-0.
Davenport, ranked second in the world, double-faulted four times and fell behind 4-0 in the second set.
"I haven't had a lapse like that in a while," Davenport said. "I was just making too many mental errors. She is a fighter. I thought it would be a tough match."
Davenport dropped serve in the second game of the final set, but regained control. She ran off four aces to take a 4-1 lead, and Coetzer had trouble returning in the final two games.
"I got my serve back and things started going well," Davenport said. "After I started hard, I began to put the pressure on her. She started to break."
The two matches featuring Hingis and Kournikova drew 5,341 fans, just short of the capacity 5,500. The combined crowd of 9,714 for the two sessions was the highest in the tournament's five years in Villanova. It is moving to Nice, France, next year.
Results from the $535,000 Advanta Championship WTA Tour tournament (seedings in parentheses):
Singles Quarterfinals
Lindsay Davenport (2), United States, def. Amanda Coetzer (7), South Africa, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. Conchita Martinez (3), Spain, def. Holly Parkinson, United States, 6-2, 6-0. Nathalie Tauziat (4), France, def. Julie Halard-Decugis, France, 6-4, 6-4. Martina Hingis (1), Switzerland, def. Anna Kournikova (6), Russia, 6-4, 6-0.
Doubles Quarterfinals
Julie Halard-Decugis, France, and Ai Sugiyama (1), Japan, def. Lindsay Davenport and Kimberly Po, United States, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Lisa Raymond, United States, and Rennae Stubbs (3), Australia, def. Alina Jidkova, Russia, and Meilen Tu, United States, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments