BERLIN (TICKER) -- With her biggest adversary now out of the tournament, top-seeded Martina Hingis moved into the semifinals of the $1.185 million German Open tennis event with a straight set victory over No. 9 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.
Hingis was slightly tested by the Spaniard, winning, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) and is now just two victories from winning this event for the second time.
The 1999 champion here, Hingis, no matter the outcome this week, is almost assured of retaining her world No. 1 ranking, which she has held since May 22, 2000.
That's because second-seeded Venus Williams of the United States, Hingis' main threat for the world's top spot, was upset on Thursday by Belgium's Justine Henin, the event's No. 13 seed.
Henin, who won both the Gold Coast and Canberra tournaments in Australia earlier this year, did not suffer a letdown after her big victory, moving on with a 6-4, 6-2 win over unseeded Miriam Schnitzer of Germany.
In Friday's other semifinal matches, third-seeded Jennifer Capriati of the United States defeated No. 6 Conchita Martinez of Spain, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, while fourth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France eliminted South Africa's Amanda Coetzer, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3.
Capriati, the reigning Australian Open champion, was a winner at the claycourt event in South Carolina two weeks ago as French Open preparations continue.
First prize is $175,000.
