Still in search of her first career title, Kournikova went down to Hingis tonight in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, in the quarterfinals of the Advanta Championships at The Pavillion at Villanova.

Hingis, the world's No. 1 player and Kournikova's doubles partner, has won five straight matches from her 19-year-old Russian adversary and has reeled off 14 straight wins overall since a semifinal loss to Venus Williams at the U.S. Open.

Hingis has won the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Swisscom Challenge and Kremlin Cup since her setback against Williams and has reeled off eight of her 34 career singles titles this year. The 20-year-old native of Switzerland has won 72 of 80 matches and over $14 million this season, improving to 45-6 on hard courts with tonight's triumph.

With Hingis's triumph, all top four seeds in the tournament reached the semifinals.

Kournikova slipped to 1-10 all-time against her doubles partner and lost the final at the Kremlin Cup to Hingis, which kept her the most famous tennis player never to win an event.

Kournikova has enjoyed a solid season on the WTA Tour, reaching the semifinals nine times, including last week, when she lost to Kim Clijsters at the Sparkassen Cup, and collecting $2.4 million in prize money.

She will team with Hingis in doubles action later tonight.

Earlier today, second-seeded American Lindsay Davenport, No. 3 Conchita Martinez of Spain and fourth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France advanced to the semifinals.

Davenport, 24, knocked off seventh seed Amanda Coetzer of South Africa, 6-1, 1-6, 6-1, as she seeks her fourth straight singles title, excluding the Olympics.

The defending champion, who defeated Hingis in straight sets in last year's final, has just three titles during an injury-plagued year. She is preparing to defend her title at the Chase Championships.

Martinez, 28, crushed lucky loser Holly Parkinson of the United States, 6-2, 6-0, to set up a semifinal meeting with Davenport. Martinez won this tournament in 1993 for one of her 32 career titles.

Tauziat, 32, will face Hingis. The Frenchwoman defeated countrywoman Julie Halard-Decugis, 6-4, 6-4, to even the lifetime series at four wins apiece.

First prize at the $535,000 event is $87,000.