3-Martina Hingis v 8-Monica Seles (Second match, Rod Laver Arena)

Between them, these two great champions have scooped seven of the last 11 Australian Opens. Hingis, triple winner in 1997-99, is shooting for her sixth straight final, having finished runner-up in 2000-01 to Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati respectively. Of all the Slams, Hingis has been most successful at the Australian. Her last major victory came in Melbourne in 1999.

Seles also last lifted a Grand Slam trophy Down Under, as the 1996 champion. Like Hingis, she also scored a hat-trick of wins in 1991-93. Aged 17 at her first victory in 1991, Monica made history as the youngest-ever champion here, until Hingis won aged 16 years three months in 1997, becoming the youngest Slam champion in the 20th century. Martina also eclipsed Monica's record as the youngest world No.1.

The 21-year-old Hingis has made a spectacular recovery from ankle surgery last October, winning her first title in 11 months at Sydney a fortnight ago and roaring through the draw here for the loss of just 14 games. Seles, 28, is into her first Grand Slam semi final since Roland Garros 1999. She and partner Jan-Michael Gambill were runners-up at the Hopman Cup in the first week of the year, and Monica has conceded just one set here, en route to her first-ever victory over Venus Williams in a dramatic quarter final.

Given her 12-4 dominance of Seles in meetings stretching back to 1996, Hingis has to be confident of reaching her 12th Grand Slam final. However, she will be wary: Monica has won their last two meetings, both on US hardcourts. These two have a tremendous regard for one another. It was Hingis who ended Monica's unbeaten run at the Australian Open at 33 matches in the semi finals here exactly three years ago. For Monica, the sting of losing was lessened by the class of her conqueror. Seles also praises Hingis for being personable off the court. "When Steffi (Graf), myself and Martina (Navratilova) were (at the top), definitely no camaraderie there," Monica said last week. "Now you have someone like Martina (Hingis), who was No.1 for many years and she talks to the other players. A lot of No.1s, they don't even say 'Hi'. There's a lot more camaraderie now, from my point of view."

The all-court flair and versatility of Hingis has swamped Seles in the past, and Martina is itching to end her Grand Slam final drought. "This is what players like me wait for," said Hingis after her quarter final. "Big occasions. The semi finals of a Grand Slam, hopefully a final. That's what you train for and what you work for."

But Monica has on her side a formidable 42-2 record at Melbourne Park (the best of any player), a tremendous competitive spirit and a nothing-to-lose attitude. "This is probably the best time in my career," Monica said after an earlier win. "I'm only playing because I enjoy it; there are no other pressures. As long as I keep working hard, and it's important to stay healthy too, I do believe I have as good a shot as anybody else in the draw."

1-Jennifer Capriati v 4-Kim Clijsters (Third match, Rod Laver Arena)

The defending champion and world No.1, Capriati is into her third straight semi final at Melbourne Park and her fifth straight overall. Last year, the 25-year-old Floridian went from cautionary tale to sporting fairy tale by upending the world's top two players - Davenport and Hingis - to score her first Grand Slam win. She faces the exciting youngster who was her victim in the final of the 2001 French Open, Jennifer's second Slam title. The 18-year-old Clijsters, the first Belgian to contest a Grand Slam final, fought to an epic 12-10 third set.

Both women are big Aussie favorites; Capriati has won plenty of hearts in the last three years, and Clijsters is like an adopted daughter, as the girlfriend of world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt. Clijsters has dropped just 15 games en route to the semis, only one more than Hingis, and was totally impressive in dominating her talented compatriot, Justine Henin, 6-2 6-3 in the quarter finals. Capriati conceded a set to Greek newcomer Eleni Daniilidou in the third round but dominated Amelie Mauresmo, finalist here in 1999, 6-2 6-2 in the previous round.

Aggressive baseliners both, Capriati and Clijsters will try to force the other onto her heels from the very first shot in the rally. "The one who can move the opponent around first in the point will actually win," surmises Kim. "And the one who makes less unforced errors."

"It's going to be tough, no matter what," Jennifer predicted. "She has been playing well. She hasn't really been put to the test at all. She plays pretty consistent. Definitely against the top players, she lifts her game."

The personable Clijsters is undaunted at her 0-2 record against Capriati and her Roland Garros run will only inspire her to do better. "It will be nice to play her again," said Kim. "After the French Open we built a very good relationship. I was practising with her a lot, so it's been nice. Of course I would like to play her and try to get revenge." Professional and mature beyond her years, that prospect is not at all beyond Clijsters.