Hingis eases into to quarters as seeds tumble
( 2002-03-12 11:19 ) (7 )

hingis

Second seed Martina Hingis overcame a momentary lapse of concentration to ease into the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters on Monday with a 6-0 6-3 win over Zimbabwe's Cara Black.

But Belgian Justine Henin, American Meghann Shaughnessy and Italian Silvia Farina Elia all absorbed fourth round upsets as the top seeds continued to tumble at the $2.1 million tournament.

Henin, twice a finalist this season and seeded third, was swept aside 6-3 6-3 by Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova while number six Shaughnessy fell 4-6 6-3 6-1 to Israel's Anna Smashnova.

Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario reached the quarter-finals of tournament for the first time this season dispatching the seventh seeded Farina Elia 6-4 7-6.

With the departures only two of the top eight seeds remain in the women's draw, Hingis and number four Monica Seles.

The losses further depleted the tournament already without the three top draws in women's tennis, world number one Venus Williams, her sister and defending champion Serena and Australian Open winner Jennifer Capriati having all bypassed the event.

The tournament lost another popular attraction Russian Anna Kournikova and top seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium, both falling at the first hurdle.

While there was never any danger of Hingis joining the exodus, the Swiss former-world number one was once again guilty of the occasional break in concentration.

HELD SERVE

After Hingis swept through the first seven games Black finally held her serve and then sent a jolt through the sun baked crowd and her open when she followed up with a break of serve to move ahead 2-1.

But Hingis immediately answered with back-to-back breaks, re-establishing her authority and close out a comfortable win.

"The first set was kind of flawless, I felt pretty good," said Hingis, who has yet to drop a set. "Even the crowd felt like it was...Ok it wasn't like they were falling asleep but it felt like everything had calmed down because I was just kind of cruising.

"It just kind of seemed so easy.

"I gave here a little opening in the second and she went up 2-1.

"It was good to break her right back and continue.

"I lost a little focus.

After struggling through her opening match, Henin had appeared to find her rhythm demolishing Italy's Adriana Serra Zanetti 6-3 6-0 in the second round.

NEVER CHALLENGED

But the Belgian never really challenged the promising 18-year-old Slovakian, particularly in the second set when she found herself down 5-1 before mounting a late rally.

"I didn't play a good match," admitted Henin. "I was too nervous, I couldn't develop my game I was so nervous.

"I'm young, I still have many things to learn.

"I don't have the experiences of the Williams or Davenport or Capriati or Hingis.

"I just tried my best today and it didn't work.

"She had nothing to lose, she was the outsider like I was last year and that's the difference."