| INDIAN WELLS, California (Ticker) -- Top seed Martina
Hingis continued her march toward a third straight singles title Saturday
with a third-round rout of Cristina Torrens-Valero at the Tennis Masters
Series at Indian Wells.
Hingis, the 1998 champion, crushed the Spanish qualifier, 6-3, 6-0,
for a spot in the quarterfinals. She extended her winning streak to nine
matches and improved her record to 26-2.
Four of the top 16 seeds won their second-round matches earlier Saturday,
and two were upset.
Seventh-seeded American Serena Williams, the 1999 champion, dispatched
Czech Adriana Gersi, 6-3, 6-2; eighth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia,
a semifinalist last year, crushed American Kristina Brandi, 6-2, 6-0; 10th
seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain struggled past American Jennifer
Hopkins, 6-0, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4; and No. 16 Barbara Schett of Austria dismissed
Czech Sandra Kleinova, 6-2, 6-1.
Williams was playing her first match since falling to Hingis in the
Australian Open quarterfinals. She withdrew from events in Paris and Scottsdale
because of exhaustion and the flu.
"It took me a long time to fall into the groove today," Williams said.
"I think it was a little tough to get started. We've been practicing really
hard, getting those hours in. So I'm really ready. I'm glad I played, glad
I won. Each round should be easier."
Two Australians recorded second-round upsets. Qualifier Evie Dominikovic
outdueled ninth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, and lucky
loser Rachel McQuillan eliminated No. 15 Amy Frazier of the United States,
7-5, 7-5.
"This is the biggest win of my career so far," said the 99th-ranked
Dominikovic. "I really didn't expect it. I just wanted to go out there
and give it my best shot and I came out on top."
No. 12 Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria escaped with a 4-6, 7-6 (9-7),
6-1 win over Belarussian qualifier Tatiana Poutchek on Saturday night.
Hingis swept the Qatar Open and Dubai Open in the Middle East last month
for a WTA Tour-leading three titles this season.
In January, Hingis defeated Lindsay Davenport to win the title at Sydney
and lost to Jennifer Capriati in the Australian Open final before falling
to Davenport in the final at Tokyo. The 20-year-old from Switzerland has
reached the final in each of the five events she has played in 2001.
The men's portion of the event begins Monday with Spain's Alex Corretja
defending his title. Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil is the top seed.
This $4.95 million event offers a first prize of $330,000 for the women's
champion and $400,000 for the men's winner.
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