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Journalism of Courage
Sydney, January 10: Martina Hingis faces her first big test of the year after reaching a quarter-final showdown with Serena Williams at the Sydney international on Wednesday.
The world No. 1 overcame Belgium’s Kim Clijsters 6-4, 6-4 to set up the prospect of a compelling clash with Williams, the fifth seed who overpowered fellow American Brie Rippner 6-1, 6-2.
Australian Open champion Lindsay Davenport and last year’s Sydney international winner Amelie Mauresmo also moved through to the last eight but seeds Anna Kournikova, Amanda Coetzer and Jennifer Capriati all bowed out.Arnaud Clement of France made an early exit from the men’s draw when he was beaten by George Bastl but the remaining big names, including top seed Magnus Norman and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, all won.
Hingis teamed up with Monica Seles to beat Serena and Venus Williams in an epic centre court doubles match on Tuesday but the effort drained her and she was clearly a little fatigued against the improving Klijsters.
Serena hardly raised a sweat against Rippner and said she had plenty in reserve for the match with Hingis. Davenport began her preparations for the defence of her Australian Open crown with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Barbara Schett to set up a meeting with her old doubles partner Lisa Raymond, who defeated eighth-seed Capriati 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Meanwhile, Hingis was warned for coaching on Wednesday after her mother was caught screaming instructions at her from the sideline.
Hingis admitted her mother had screamed at her during the Australian Open lead-up event but said she was only trying to encourage her, not coach.
Seles won her second-round match on Tuesday while the unseded Mauresmo joined her in the last eight when she overpowered seventh-seed Coetzer 7-5, 7-5.
American Corina Morariu eliminated sixth-seed Kournikova 6-1, 6-2 to secure a quarter-final meeting with French Open finalist Conchita Martinez.
Norman eased past Australia’s Todd Woodbridge 6-3, 6-1 to advance to a quarter-final meeting with Bastl after the Swiss qualifier beat Clement 5-7 6-2, 6-2. Hewitt also cruised through after a bitter-sweet 6-4, 6-1 win over fellow Australian Andrew Ilie.
Sampras loses
MELBOURNE: World No. 2 Marat Safin withdrew and No. 3 Pete Sampras suffered a heavy defeat on the first day of the the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament . US Open champion Safin withdrew from the round-robin exhibition after going down 6-2, 6-1 to France’s Nicolas Escude. He said he was suffering from an elbow injury which prevented him serving properly and might not be able to play in next week’s Australian Open.
Sampras insisted there was no reason to doubt his chances at the Australian Open despite suffering a 6-2, 6-4 defeat by Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Sampras, who last year surpassed Roy Emerson’s record for Grand Slam titles when he secured his 13th honour with victory at Wimbledon, appeared rusty as he struggled to deal with the speed of the courts.
