NEW YORK (AP) -- Defending champion Lindsay Davenport and top-seeded Martina Hingis are the last obstacles to the first all-sister final in Grand Slam tournament history.

Since Richard Williams predicted daughters Venus and Serena would meet in the U.S. Open title match, 124 players have packed up their rackets and picked up their checks.

Serena Williams, at 17 the younger of the hair-beaded, power-hitting sisters, was to be the first to play spot in the final when she meets Davenport. The second semifinal pairs Venus Williams, 19, against the 18-year-old Hingis, who won her only U.S. Open singles title two years ago.

It marks the first time three teen-agers have reached the final four since 1980, when Chris Evert was joined in the semifinals by Tracy Austin, Andrea Jaeger and Hana Mandlikova. And it is the first time three American-born players have gathered in the semis since Evert, Jaeger and Pam Shriver did it in 1982.

The pairings for the men's singles semis were completed Thursday when Cedric Pioline upset fifth-seeded Gustavo Kuerten 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (16-14), 7-6 (10-8) and No. 7 Todd Martin defeated Slava Dosedel 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Saturday's other men's semifinal, which will be sandwiched around the women's final, will be between No. 2 Andre Agassi and No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

``Lindsay hits the ball really hard. I hit the ball hard. It's going to be fun,'' said Serena Williams, who has a 2-1 career record over Davenport, winning their last two meetings. ``It's pretty exciting for women's tennis.''

Serena Williams has excited the crowds at the USTA National Tennis Center as she powered her way into a Grand Slam tournament semifinal for the first time.

Venus Williams has been there, done that as far as playing this late in one of the sport's four major tournaments. Her match against Hingis is a replay of the U.S. Open final two years ago when Hingis easily won in straight sets.

She has since reached at least the quarterfinals in seven of the past eight Grand Slam events, including the semifinals here a year ago.

``Now it's Venus and Serena's time,'' said Monica Seles, ousted by Serena in the quarterfinals.

Anke Huber, who lost to Hingis in a wind-swept quarterfinal, agreed with Seles.

``I think it will be very, very close,'' Huber predicted. ``It's going to be a tough match for Martina, I think. Venus is hitting the ball hard and very aggressive.''

The sisters also were scheduled on the court later today in the doubles semifinals against Mary Pierce and Barbara Schett. The Williams girls advanced Thursday with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Mary Joe Fernandez and Seles.

Pioline, twice a Grand Slam finalist but never a champion, continued his reign as king of the tiebreaker. So far in the tournament, the Frenchman has played six tiebreakers, winning them all.

In the fourth-set tiebreaker, Kuerten hit what he thought was a winner deep into the corner. But Pioline, sprinting across the baseline, responded with a forehand down the line that whipped past the surprised Kuerten.

Pioline, who stumbled and fell while hitting the winner, rolled onto his back and pumped his arms in victory. Kuerten, equally impressed, dropped his racket, raised his arms in triumph for his opponent, then walked to Pioline's side of the net to congratulate the Frenchman.

``It was a great point,'' Kuerten said. ``I think maybe the best point from the match. ... I couldn't believe it. It was great. I play well that point; he play better than me. So I congratulate him. It was an amazing shot.''

Pioline appeared shocked when he saw Kuerten on his side of the net.

``Actually I was very surprised,'' he said. ``It's not usual. I just stand up. When I turned, he was there, just like, `Shake my hand.' I'm like, `What's going on? You stop or what?'

``It was strange, you know.''

It is Pioline's first U.S. Open semifinal since 1993, when he lost to Pete Sampras. He also lost to Sampras in the Wimbledon final two years ago.

This year, Pioline doesn't have to worry about Sampras, who pulled out of the tournament with a bad back.

Martin served 22 aces in his victory over Dosedel to reach his first Grand Slam tournament semifinal since Wimbledon in 1996, when he blew a 5-1 lead in the fifth set and lost to MaliVai Washington.

Martin also reached the semis at Wimbledon in 1994, the same year he was runnerup in the Australian Open and a semifinalist in the U.S. Open.

In the first title to be decided at this year's Open, Ai Sugiyama of Japan and India's Mahesh Bhupathi won the mixed doubles, defeating Americans Kimberly Po and Donald Johnson 6-4, 6-4.

Bhupathi has a chance to win another title. He and partner Leander Paes are in today's men's doubles final against Sebastien Lareau and Alex O'Brien.