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Hingis advances at Australian Open
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-21 13:33 The 25-year-old Swiss star has lost only 10 games in three matches here, but
that doesn't mean she's been cruising.
"I don't think it was that easy when I was down 3-1 today," she said. "Every
match I get out here is a coming back home."
With every win comes increasing expectations.
"Coming into this tournament, I was like, 'OK, tough first round, see if I
survive that one first,'" she said. "But one by one ... expectations definitely
grow. With every match I'm getting more confidence."
Hingis was broken in the fourth game but broke back immediately.
After Benesova held for a 4-3 lead, Hingis won seven straight games before
the 22-year-old Czech held again.
Hingis won at love, closing with an ace to lead 5-1. Then she broke for the
sixth time, sealing the match in 66 minutes on Benesova's 27th error.
Hingis' serve has continued to improve as her comeback progresses.
She got 64 percent of her first serves in and won almost 80 percent of those
points on Saturday.
Hingis next plays the winner of Saturday's match between Australia's Samantha
Stosur and Sybille Bammer of Austria.
On Friday night, defending champion Serena Williams fended off four match
points before she was upset 6-1, 7-6 (5) by 17th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova in
the third round.
Williams' loss means there will be no repeat singles champion.
Marat Safin, the 2005 men's winner, didn't make it to Melbourne due to a knee
problem.
Women's No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and No. 4 Maria Sharapova advanced, as did
men's No. 2 Andy Roddick and No. 4 David Nalbandian.
Roger Federer, the overwhelming favorite in the men's draw, was to play Max
Mirnyi in the third round later Saturday.
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