| WIMBLEDON, England -- Top seed Martina Hingis survived
early service problems on Friday before stamping her authority on Croatia's
Silvija Talaja 6-2, 6-2 at Wimbledon.
She now meets German 11th seed Anke Huber and the Swiss teenager says
she is in the mood to take on all-comers, including the Williams sisters.
"I am feeling very focused, very concentrated and physically I am feeling
100 percent," the 19-year-old said after her third round victory.
"Going into the second week I am feeling great," she smiled.
But the 1997 champion did not have everything her own way on Friday.
Against 22nd-ranked Talaja on Court One, she was put on the back foot from
the start by her opponent's hard hitting.
The first three service games were breaks and Hingis was forced to fight
off two break points in the fourth game before finally holding and opening
up a lead against the powerful 22-year-old.
Coming into the net more, and cutting off Talaja's rasping groundstrokes
with drive volleys, Hingis served out the first set 6-2 in 30 minutes.
She broke immediately in the first game of the second set and that was
all the momentum she needed to go on and seal victory comfortably in just
over an hour.
Last year, Hingis was dumped out of the first round here by Australian
qualifier Jelena Dokic 6-2, 6-0 in one of the biggest shocks in the history
of the championships.
This year Hingis, champion in 1997, says experience is helping to drive
her on.
"Sure, it gives me an extra kick to do well this year," she said. "I
have nothing to lose ... I have nothing to defend this year -- I am in
a great situation.
"I am getting more and more confidence each match I play, and a lot
more consistency too.
"There is still a long way to go but I am feeling very confident."
If the seedings go to plan, Hingis will meet fifth seed Venus Williams
in the quarterfinals and sister Serena Williams in the semis. And she knows
that will be tough.
"Venus is playing well ... she's getting better and better the more
matches she plays," she said.
Asked if U.S. Open champion Serena could win Wimbledon this year despite
injuries hampering her preparation, Hingis said: "I hope not -- let's just
say I will have something to say about that."
|