Usual suspects to contest semis

Hingis, the 19-year-old top seed, moved to within one win of her third final appearance here when she breezed by unseeded American Chanda Rubin 6-1 6-3 in the quarter-finals.

Hingis will now meet local heroine Mary Pierce on Saturday.

Sixth-seeded Pierce beat three-time champion Monica Seles 4-6 6-3 6-4 in her quarter-final and will be looking to repeat her effort in making the final back in 1994.

Sanchez-Vicario, meanwhile, faces an all-Spanish match with fifth-seeded Conchita Martinez.

“All of us Spaniards love clay,” she said. “We all dream of winning here. We are very motivated.”

Sanchez-Vicario beat the talented but under-achieving fourth-seeded American Venus Williams 6-0 1-6 6-2 to reach the semis for the 10th time.

Sanchez-Vicario first won the event as a 17-year-old in 1989 and added further titles on the slow, red clay here in 1994 and 1998.

She has an amazing 71 wins at Roland Garros — far more than any current player.

Martinez, who has been a semi-finalist here three times before, beat 17-year-old qualifier and countrywoman Marta Marrero 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 in her quarters match.

Sanchez-Vicario is still only 28, but says she’s getting better with every passing year.

“I’m still improving and that’s what you have to do if you want to win this tournament,” she said.

“I work hard to be in good shape. You need to be really fit against the younger players and with age I seem to get better and better.”

Hingis is closing in on the only Grand Slam title she has never won, but this year she is trying to keep things in perspective after losing the final to Steffi Graf in last year’s final and to Iva Majoli in 1997.

“It would be nice to win it – but I don’t need it,” she said. “I need oxygen to survive – but not the French Open.”

Hingis clearly enjoyed herself against Rubin. “I think I played very well,” she said. “I was focused from the beginning.”

Hingis attacked Rubin at every opportunity, punishing anything in midcourt.

“It is very important to get a quick match behind me,” she said. “I’m feeling good. I’m quite confident and I have reason to be.”