Top-seeded Martina Hingis defeated Tamarine Tanasugarn 7-5, 6-2 Friday to advance to the Sunfeast Open semifinals.
Hingis will play fifth-seeded Sania Mirza of India, who overcame Aravane Rezai 6-4, 7-5.
``Sania has a great forehand that I saw during my only match against her,'' said Hingis, who beat her at the Dubai Open in February.
The other semifinal will feature qualifier Iroda Tulyaganova against Olga Poutchkova. Tulyaganova rallied from a first-set loss to overcome Alla Kudryavtseva 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, while Poutchkova defeated Alberta Brianti 7-5, 6-3.
Hingis struggled early against unseeded Tanasugarn, who took a 3-0 lead in the first set. Hingis broke her in the second and eighth games to wrap up the second set.
``Tanasugarn's forehand was strong,'' Hingis said. ``I was trying to hit hard, but it did not work as she returned everything.''
Mirza rallied from a 1-4 deficit in the second set after Rezai had trouble with her serve. Mirza drew even at 5-5 and won the final two games.
``I've never played anyone who hits the ball so hard,'' Mirza said.
Tulyaganova squandered a 3-1 lead to lose the first set, but got steadier throughout the match.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
