ZURICH, Switzerland (Ticker) - Switzerland's Martina Hingis and American Lindsay Davenport posted convincing straight-set semifinal wins today, setting up a showdown between the world's two top-ranked players in the final of the Swisscom Challenge.

The top-ranked Hingis needed exactly an hour to tame sixth seed Jennifer Capriati of the United States, 6-3, 6-2, sending her through to the Zurich final for the third time in four years.

While the $1 million tournament is being played in Hingis' backyard, Davenport continued to make herself right at home in Switzerland. She downed unseeded Barbara Schett of Austria, 6-2, 6-1, extending her unbeaten run on Swiss soil to 20 matches.

Having made her professional debut in Zurich at 14, Hingis has never particularly enjoyed much of a home-court advantage despite living just a few kilometers from the Schluefweg Arena where the tournament is staged.

"I've won tournaments before but this is a little different here," admitted Hingis, who has 32 career titles on her resume. "I've been taking it easy and relaxed and this is the best I've done."

The victories set the stage for an intriguing final with Hingis, who has never won a title in her native Switzerland, facing Davenport, who has not lost a match on Swiss soil since falling to Italy's Linda Ferrando in 1992.

Since then Davenport has claimed back-to-back European Open titles in nearby Lucerne in 1993 and 1994 and Zurich titles in 1997 and 1998.

"We've never played here and I know the crowd will definitely be for her," Davenport said. "I know she really wants to win this title. It's probably one of the few titles she hasn't won and I haven't lost here, so it should be a great match.

"But if I'm serving well and playing my game, I'm tough to beat indoors. But then she (Hingis) can make life tough for anyone."

Sidelined since pulling out of the Sydney Olympics in the second round with tendinitis in her left ankle, Davenport has displayed few signs of rust, reaching her 10th final this season without dropping a set.

Davenport simply overpowered Schett, pounding 11 aces past the helpless Austrian, closing out the semifinal in just 48 minutes.

"I thought I played exceptional," Davenport said. "I really felt like I was on top of my game. When I was in trouble, I came up with the big serve when I needed it."

The other semifinal featured two of the tour's on-form players. Hingis collected her sixth title of the season last Sunday in Filderstadt, Germany, and Capriati claimed her ninth career win two weeks ago in Luxembourg.

Capriati gave away the first set when she double-faulted twice at 4-4 to hand Hingis the break. Hingis then easily held serve to take the opening set.

The American's serve would let her down once again in the second set, double-faulting to give Hingis the break and a 1-0 lead and again to allow Hingis to move ahead, 5-2.

"In the second set I felt like she loosened up a little and wasn't serving well," said Hingis, adding that she was slowed by a head cold. "I felt a little sick, it was hard to breathe when I had to run in the longer rallies. But it won't be a problem tomorrow."

While the No. 1 ranking will not be at stake in Sunday's final, Hingis and Davenport have developed an intense rivalry, swapping the top spot five times since October 1998.

The American has held the upper hand in head-to-head meetings, winning 11 of 19 clashes.

Sunday's final will mark the fourth time this year Hingis and Davenport have met to decide a title, with Davenport winning at the Australian Open and Indian Wells before Hingis received a badly-needed boost of confidence with a win at the Ericsson Open. Their final at Scottsdale, Arizona was washed out by rain.

"In Miami I didn't feel like I was at my best," Davenport said. "I know I could play better. But she (Hingis) gets pumped up when she's been losing to someone and wants to stop that trend."