INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) — Martina Hingis still has Monica Seles’ number, and it’s 15-4.
Hingis, anticipating many of Seles’ shot placements, defeated her for the 15th time in 19 matches with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in Thursday’s Pacific Open Life semifinals.
“I was always kind of able to read her game,” said Hingis, who often during the match scurried to spots where Seles wound up hitting the ball.
I already had beaten her twice this year. She's always a tough one and I was ready,'' Hingis said.I had a lot of confidence going into the match because I knew I was playing well throughout the whole tournament.”
Seles, the 1992 Indian Wells champion, felt out of synch in her match against Hingis.
I couldn't find my rhythm; that was really it,'' said Seles, at 28 seven years older than Hingis.I made error after error and Martina just played too good. I guess she made me hit those errors.
“When I got down, she’s too good. I was not really living up to my game that I need to play if I want to have success against her.”
Seles beat Hingis in both their meetings last year, but Hingis is 3-0 against her in 2002.
Hingis, the 1998 tournament champion, meets Daniela Hantuchova in Saturday’s final. Hantuchova, 18, from Slovakia, beat Emmanuelle Gagliardi 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
Hingis defeated Lindsay Davenport in the Indian Wells final four years ago.