Hingis, Huber advance to semifinal showdown

Top-seeded Martina Hingis rallied to beat former doubles partner Anna Kournikova in three sets Friday and set up a semifinal showdown against streaking Anke Huber at the Betty Barclay Cup.

Hingis beat the sixth-seeded Russian 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

"I didn't play very well and Anna fought very well," Hingis said. "It's encouraging to be able to win a match like this."

Huber also fought from behind to upset third-seeded Conchita Martinez 6-7 (6), 7-6 (4), 6-2 and brought her winning streak on clay this year to 11.

Kournikova dominated in the first set against Hingis with a big forehand and a nearly error-free performance. But she was unable to maintain the high level and allowed the Swiss to come back.

Hingis led 5-1 in the third but Kournikova saved three match points and won the next third title of the year.

If she wins the dlrs 535,000 tournament, Hingis will recapture the No. 1 ranking she lost to Lindsay Davenport last month.

Huber, a German trying to get back into the Top 10 after a long slump, wasted three set points to drop the opening set, but fought back in an even match that could have gone either way.

Huber needed two hours, 33 minutes to overcome the Spaniard.

"I am a little bit tired, but hopefully I can get it together tomorrow," said Huber, who two weeks ago won her first tournament since 1996.