Martina Hingis continued her dramatic comeback this morning by advancing to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. The five-time Grand Slam champion defeated Samantha Stosur, an Australian, in straight sets to set up her toughest meeting since she came out of retirement after three years, against Kim Clijsters, the injury-plagued No 2 seed.
Hingis blunted Stosur’s powerful ground strokes with an impeccable display of subtlety and intelligence, winning 6-1, 7-6 (10-8). The 25-year-old pushed through the first set in only 23 minutes, leaving Stosur, the world 98, at times almost close to tears in frustration.
Stosur gave the Melbourne crowd something to cheer in the second set, breaking Hingis as she served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5, then pulling ahead 5-2 in the tiebreak. This time, however, it was Hingis’s turn to rally, and the Swiss ran off four straight points to set up match point. Stosur managed to delay the inevitable for a further three match points, but eventually succumbed when a forehand failed to clear the net: her 43rd unforced error.
“I started off very well, I knew that I had to be right there from the start — we both probably were very nervous,” Hingis said. “I knew I couldn’t give her any momentum. Stosur is a great fighter, I know she was the last Aussie standing, sorry for that, but I hope for your support in the next round.”
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Clijsters, another foreign player the Australian crowd have taken to their hearts over the years, overcame the back and hip pain that has bothered her for the past week as she defeated Francesca Shiavone, the Italian No 15 seed, 7-6 (5), 6-4. She committed four double faults and 43 unforced errors.
“I was a bit scared,” Clijsters said of the nagging injuries that had her questioning whether she would even show up in Melbourne Park this year. “I’ve probably been in the physio room more in the last week than in my life. Hopefully it’ll pay off.”
Amelie Mauresmo was another big name to reach the quarter-finals, committing only two unforced errors in a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Nicole Vaidisova, the 16-year-old. She will meet Patty Schnyder, who defeated Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 French Open champion, 6-2, 6-1 in only 55 minutes.