ROME (AP) -- Top-seeded Martina Hingis extended her mastery over Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario with a smashing 6-3, 6-1 victory in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open Friday.

The victory was Hingis' 17th in 18 meetings against Sanchez-Vicario.

Joining Hingis in Saturday's semifinals by No. 3 Conchita Martinez, No. 4 Amelie Mauresmo and No. 14 Jelena Dokic.

Martinez, who will face her doubles partner Dokic in the semis, defeated Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3. Dokic beat South Africa's Joannette Kruger 6-2, 7-6 (5), with the Yugoslav youngster rallying from a 4-1 deficit in the second set.

Martinez has won all five meetings against Dokic.

The hard-hitting 18-year-old Dokic squandered three match points before winning the tiebreaker against Kruger.

Mauresmo fought back from poor starts in both sets for a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Argentina's Paola Suarez on the Foro Italico's red clay.

The 21-year-old Mauresmo came back from 4-0 down in the first set and 5-2 in the second.

``I had trouble getting into the match,'' Mauresmo said. ``You know they say it's good to win even when you don't play well. And that was the case today.''

After the match, Mauresmo said she's been playing the best tennis of her career this season. She came into the Italian Open after winning her fourth title of the year at last week's German Open, where she beat Jennifer Capriati in a three-set final.

Later this month, Mauresmo will try to follow the example of Mary Pierce, who last year was the first Frenchwoman to win the French Open title since 1967.

``The last couple of months, I've been playing better than I ever have,'' she said. ``It's all coming together.''

Hingis said she was trying to hit her top form while conserving energy.

``That's why I tried to keep it as short as possible tonight,'' she said after the 62-minute match against Sanchez-Vicario. ``This is the biggest part of the season.''

Mauresmo beat Hingis last week in the semifinals at the German Open.