PARIS (Ticker) -- Top seeds Gustavo Kuerten and Martina Hingis marched confidently into the semifinals of the French Open on Tuesday, posting convincing wins.

French champion in 1997 and 2000, Kuerten advanced to the semis for the third time in his career. Each time, the colorful Brazilian did so at the expense of Yevgeny Kafelnikov, toppling the Russian, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

Waiting for Kuerten is fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, who reached the final four for the second year in row by crushing sixth-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1.

Hingis, meanwhile, moved a big step closer to claiming the one Grand Slam title missing from her collection, brushing aside unseeded Italian Francesca Schiavone, 6-1, 6-4.

The Swiss world No. 1 will next take on Jennifer Capriati, who won the all-American marquee quarterfinal with sixth seed Serena Williams.

The Australian Open champion was forced to hold off a spirited comeback from Williams to steal a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win and return to the semis at Roland Garros for the first time since 1990 when, at 14, she became the youngest player to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam.

But the most impressive performances of the day belonged to a pair of Belgian teenagers -- 14th seed Justine Henin and 12th seed Kim Clijsters.

Henin, who celebrated her 19th birthday last week, was first into the final four, steamrolling past Russian Lina Krasnoroutskaya, 6-1, 6-2, in just 50 minutes.

The 17-year-old Clijsters also needed less than an hour to dispose of Hungarian qualifier Petra Mandula, 6-1, 6-3. They are the first Belgians to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.

Kuerten, who needed five sets to shrug off American qualifier Michael Russell, in the fourth round, looked every bit the defending champion as he stepped on Center Court against Kafelnikov, surrendering just one game in the opening set.

The 1996 champion battled back to level the match at a set each, but when Kuerten claimed the third in a tiebreak, it seemed to deflate the Russian, who mustered only meek resistance in the fourth.

"Two days ago, I was almost out of the tournament, but now I'm again in the semifinals and it's a great feeling," said Kuerten. "We've played 10 or 11 times and all the matches were pretty close, but especially here.

"I don't think he wants to see me again here because that's three times I've taken him out. From now on, I don't have much more pressure on myself to win, to beat the other guys. It's pretty open now. Maybe I can take more risks and play my game a little bit relaxed."

Kuerten, who has enjoyed the unbridled support of the Parisian crowds, will need all the help he can get against Ferrero.

The Spaniard, who has won four tournaments this season, including three on clay, has been devastating at Roland Garros, particularly in blasting the feisty Hewitt off Center Court.

Having watched Hewitt battle back from two sets down for the first time in his career against Argentine Guillermo Canas in the fourth round, Fererro never allowed the Aussie an opportunity to get back into the contest, controlling the match from the opening serve.

"I knew that Hewitt was capable of coming back," said Ferrero, who lost to Kuerten in five sets at the same stage of the tournament last year. "It was important for me to start strongly in the third set and I did that with the break.

"I have a year more experience and I feel I'm playing even better now. It should be a great game against Kuerten. I love playing here in Paris. I think it's the tournament everyone wants to win, apart from maybe a few hardcourt specialists."

Hingis hardly broke a sweat, overwhelming her 20-year-old Italian opponent in 68 minutes. But the Swiss can expect a much more difficult time with a rejuvenated Capriati, who beat her in January in the Australian Open final to collect her first Grand Slam.

"I beat her in Australia and I'll have that on my mind," said Capriati, the fourth seed. "And I think that will be an advantage.