Tokyo, Japan (TSN) – Australian Open champion Martina Hingis advanced to the semifinals, while top-ranked Lindsay Davenport was upset in the quarters of the $1.05 million Pan Pacific Open on Friday.
The second-seeded Hingis bounced back from a mistake-filled first-set loss to defeat number-five Steffi Graf, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Hingis, currently ranked second in the world, will face third- seeded Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic in Saturday’s semifinals. Due to Davenport’s exit on Friday, Hingis can reclaim the top spot in the rankings with a victory over the weekend. Davenport, the defending champion, was shocked by South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Novotna, the third seed, advanced when Natasha Zvereva retired with eye problems after dropping the first set 5-7.
Meanwhile, the seventh-seeded Coetzer will battle Monica Seles in the semifinals. Seles, the four seed, knocked off sixth-seeded Anna Kournikova of Russia, 7-5, 6-3.