Back to Headlines
3/15/2001
Hingis Upset by Clijsters
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) -- Top-seeded Martina Hingis was upset Thursday in the semifinals of the Masters Series tournament, losing 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to Kim Clijsters, a 17-year-old from Belgium rapidly working her way up the world rankings.
In the men's draw, fourth-seeded Andre Agassi outlasted Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals. Patrick Rafter also advanced, beating defending champion Alex Corretja 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Clijsters, who has won three times on the women's tour since turning pro in 1999, consistently drove low, hard groundstrokes down the lines against Hingis.
She hit 21 winners -- 13 on forehands -- to Hingis' 10.
Clijsters will play the winner of Thursday evening's semifinal between Serena and Venus Williams in Saturday's championship match.
Hingis' loss ended her string of five consecutive finals, a span in which she won three times.
Clijsters was 47th in the world rankings in 1999 and has jumped to No. 19. Making the Indian Wells final will bump her up the ladder.
``That's one of the top 10 players I see in the future, for sure,'' Hingis said. ``She basically didn't really have a weakness today.''
Clijsters was thrilled to beat Hingis for the first time in their four matches.
``This is probably my greatest tournament, my greatest victory,'' she said. ``Afterwards, all the people are telling you that you beat No. 1 in the world.''
Clijsters was careful not to get too giddy.
``I have to keep my feet on the ground. I'm looking forward to my next match. I know it's going to be very, very hard,'' she said.
Hingis, who finished 2000 ranked No. 1 for the third time in four years, was the Indian Wells champion in 1998 and a finalist last year, losing the title match to Lindsay Davenport.
Clijsters had lost to Hingis in straight sets in their previous three meetings, including a 6-4, 6-4 defeat at Sydney earlier this year.
Clijsters made a splash at the 1999 U.S. Open, when she was -- at 16 years and two months -- the youngest player in the draw. She reached the third round before she lost to Serena Williams after leading 5-3 in the third set. Williams went on to win the championship.
-Alternative Press
--Yahoo! Sports
~Clijsters City
|
Hingis Upset by ClijstersINDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) -- Top-seeded Martina Hingis was upset Thursday in the semifinals of the Masters Series tournament, losing 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to Kim Clijsters, a 17-year-old from Belgium rapidly working her way up the world rankings. In the men's draw, fourth-seeded Andre Agassi outlasted Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals. Patrick Rafter also advanced, beating defending champion Alex Corretja 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Clijsters, who has won three times on the women's tour since turning pro in 1999, consistently drove low, hard groundstrokes down the lines against Hingis. She hit 21 winners -- 13 on forehands -- to Hingis' 10. Clijsters will play the winner of Thursday evening's semifinal between Serena and Venus Williams in Saturday's championship match. Hingis' loss ended her string of five consecutive finals, a span in which she won three times. Clijsters was 47th in the world rankings in 1999 and has jumped to No. 19. Making the Indian Wells final will bump her up the ladder. ``That's one of the top 10 players I see in the future, for sure,'' Hingis said. ``She basically didn't really have a weakness today.'' Clijsters was thrilled to beat Hingis for the first time in their four matches. ``This is probably my greatest tournament, my greatest victory,'' she said. ``Afterwards, all the people are telling you that you beat No. 1 in the world.'' Clijsters was careful not to get too giddy. ``I have to keep my feet on the ground. I'm looking forward to my next match. I know it's going to be very, very hard,'' she said. Hingis, who finished 2000 ranked No. 1 for the third time in four years, was the Indian Wells champion in 1998 and a finalist last year, losing the title match to Lindsay Davenport. Clijsters had lost to Hingis in straight sets in their previous three meetings, including a 6-4, 6-4 defeat at Sydney earlier this year. Clijsters made a splash at the 1999 U.S. Open, when she was -- at 16 years and two months -- the youngest player in the draw. She reached the third round before she lost to Serena Williams after leading 5-3 in the third set. Williams went on to win the championship.
|