| By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) -- Martina Hingis conceded a set and survived a scare Sunday
in the fourth round at the French Open, losing seven consecutive games
before she rallied to beat Ruxandra Dragomir 6-3, 0-6, 6-1.
The top-seeded Hingis admitted that she gave up hope of winning the
second set after falling behind.
``I knew, you know, just get that set over with,'' she said. ``I was
down 3-0, 4-0. It's like no way at this tournament you're going to come
back.''
Hingis won the final six games and advanced to the quarterfinals against
unseeded American Chanda Rubin, who beat Natasha Zvereva 6-4, 7-5. Rubin
also reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 1995.
``This next week is going to be kind of another level,'' Rubin said.
``I'm going to see how well I'm able to do that.''
Four other seeded women also advanced, including No. 4 Venus Williams,
who eliminated No. 11 Anke Huber 7-6 (4), 6-2. Williams' opponent in the
quarterfinals will be No. 8 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, a three-time champion,
who overcame a slow start to beat No. 16 Barbara Schett 0-6, 6-4, 6-2.
No. 5 Conchita Martinez beat Ai Sugiyama 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. No. 6 Mary Pierce
swept Asa Carlsson 6-2, 6-1.
Two Spaniards advanced in men's play. No. 10-seeded Alex Corretja swept
Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (7), 6-2, and No. 16 Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Mark
Philippoussis 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Hingis played the morning match on Court Suzanne Lenglen in cloudy,
65-degree weather.
``I'm going to play in pants next time,'' said Hingis, who grew up in
Switzerland. ``I'm freezing out there. My body's not used to it anymore.''
Hingis appeared in control of her match but then began to unravel in
the second set, struggling mostly with an erratic forehand. She lost her
serve five times in the first two sets and fell behind 1-0 in the third.
But then Hingis reversed the momentum, putting pressure on Dragomir
with her full arsenal of shots -- a pinpoint lob, a swinging volley, drop
shots and putaways at the net. Reacting quickly to a drop shot by Dragomir,
Hingis sprinted to the ball and with a satisfied ``ugh!'' swatted it crosscourt
for a winner and a 4-1 lead.
French fans cheered, but Hingis' relationship with them remains strained.
They hooted and whistled several times when she pointed at ball marks on
disputed calls, and again when she delayed play to change rackets in the
middle of a game.
``I don't know if they have something against her or they don't really
like her, or maybe they like me more,'' said Dragomir, a Romanian. ``Maybe
it's not nice very nice for Hingis when they do this every single match
she's playing. But for me, I think it was good.''
Despite the razzing and inconsistent play, Hingis moved one step closer
to the only Grand Slam title she hasn't won.
``I played terrible some points in the second set,'' Hingis said. ``But
I knew if I do the things I have to do, it's going to be fine.''
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