Top seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland advanced to her fourth final of the year Saturday by whipping third seed and current doubles partner Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-3, at the $1.05 million Family Circle Cup.

Seventh seed Anna Kournikova of Russia, who teamed with Hingis earlier this year to win the Australian Open doubles title, reached her second career singles final Saturday by getting past sixth seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 6-3.

The 18-year-old Hingis, who improved to 9-3 lifetime against the reigning Wimbledon champion, has not won a title since February 7 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

A week earlier, Hingis captured her third consecutive Australian Open crown. She also reached the final of the Sydney International in Australia the second week of January but lost to American Lindsay Davenport.

A winner here in 1997, Hingis will be gunning for her 22nd career WTA Tour title.

Kournikova, 17, has not achieved the same success. Her only prior appearance in a singles final came at last year's Lipton Championships, when she lost to Venus Williams, who successfully defended her title against younger sister Serena last Sunday.

This will be the first meeting between the two teenagers this season. Last year, Hingis took three of four meetings and in 1997, she emerged in the semifinals at Wimbledon.