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Hingis, Seles set up desert showdown
( 2002-03-14 11:07 ) (7 )

Martina Hingis of Switzerland returns a shot against Amanda Coetzer of South Africa at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California, March 13, 2002. Hingis advanced with a 6-1 6-2 victory. [Reuters]

A desert storm halted play at the $2.1 million Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday but could not stop Martina Hingis and Monica Seles setting up a semifinal confrontation.

While a raging sandstorm stopped play on all the outside courts, Seles and Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, both triple former French Open champions, battled on in the sheltered main stadium.

When the dust finally settled, fourth seed Seles had claimed a 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory and her 20th win in 23 career meetings with the Spaniard.

Second seed Hingis, taking to centre court shortly after the worst of the storm had swirled through the Tennis Garden grounds, was unaffected by the gusting winds as she breezed past South Africa's Amanda Coetzer 6-1 6-2 to reach the last four for the fifth time in as many tournaments.

The wild conditions were among the strangest ever experienced at the Palm Desert tournament, leaving cars and courts covered in a thin layer of sand.

Even back-to-back tournaments in Dubai and Doha could not prepare American Seles for what she experienced on centre court against ninth seed Sanchez Vicario.

"Those tournaments helped me prepare for the wind but not the sand, that I had never seen before," said Seles, the winner in Doha and a semifinalist in Dubai. "In all the years I've played here, I've never seen anything like today.

VERY SLIPPERY

"It was extremely windy but also there was sand in your eyes and on the court, making it very slippery. For me it was really bad.

"Every other changeover I had to take a wet towel and just take the sand out of my eyes. It was difficult for both of us out there."

While Hingis and Coetzer did not have to contend with swirling sand, the wind continued to howl around the Tennis Garden grounds as conditions remained tricky.

But Swiss Hingis said she was well prepared, having watched Seles and Sanchez Vicario fight through their blustery quarter-final.

"I think I played well despite the wind," said Hingis, who has now beaten Coetzer nine times in 11 meetings. "It was difficult conditions but it was the same for both of us.

"I watched the Monica-Arantxa match and learned from that. You had to be very patient, not go for shots too soon, just wait for the right moment."

Hingis and Seles will clash for the 19th time when they meet in Thursday's semifinal, the 21-year-old Swiss holding a commanding edge having beaten the American 14 times, including twice this season at the Australian Open and the Pan Pacific championships.

The other semifinal features Hingis's compatriot Emmanuelle Gagliardi and 18-year-old Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.

"Hopefully the outcome will be the same as in the previous other matches this year," said Hingis, who reached the last four without dropping a set.

"But you have to be ready to play her, she's always a tough opponent."