Hingis in semis

Tournament officials confirmed security for Hingis had been stepped up after a 42-year-old Yugoslavian man admitted sending faxes to the Swiss player in Filderstadt, Germany, last week. The fan was in the audience as Hingis dropped only four points in five games to take first set, before enjoying another run of four games to win the match.

Results Pre-quarter-finals: 2-Venus Williams US bt Irina Spirlea Rom 6-3 6-2, 3-Mary Pierce Fra bt Chanda Rubin US 6-1 6-2

Ivanisevic out

VIENNA: Austria8217;s Stefan Koubek advanced to the quarter-finals of the Ca Trophy last evening, beating Croatia8217;s Goran Ivanisevic 6-7 3-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Pre-quarter-finals: 6-Richard Krajicek Netherlands bt Magnus Larsson Swe 6-4, 6-2, 7-Nicolas Kiefer Ger bt Juergen Melzer Aut 6-4, 6-0, Karol Kucera Slo bt 8-Nicolas Lapentti Ecu 6-2, 6-3, Sebastien Grosjean Fra bt Marat Safin Rus 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 7-5

Hewitt moves up

SINGAPORE: Fourth seed Lleyton Hewitt took advantage of his opportunities today to reach the semi-finals of the Singapore Heineken Open for the first time at the expense of Holland8217;s Jon Van Lottum 6-4, 6-2.

In another quarter-final, Mikael Tillstrom Swe beat Ivan Ljubicic Croatia 7-6 7-4, 4-6, 6-3