Switzerland's Martina Hingis has reached the semi-finals of the WTA tennis tournament in Hamburg with a straight sets win over Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova.

Hingis, currently ranked fourth in the world, saw off the rising Slovakian 7-5, 6-4 to book her place in the final four.

Friday's win also saw the Swiss number one avenge her shock defeat by Hantuchova (WTA 14) in the final of the prestigious Indian Wells tournament in March.

"I went out there with a lot of respect for Hantuchova and certainly didn't underestimate her," said a satisfied Hingis after Friday's victory.

Venus next

Competing in her first clay court tournament this season, Hingis is next due to meet her old foe and current world number one Venus Williams.

The American booked her own place in the semi-finals on Friday, after coming from behind to beat Spain's Arantxa Sanchez 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

"It's always a pleasure to take on the top player in the rankings," Hingis said in anticipation of Saturday's match.

Although Hingis has faced the older of the two Williams sisters no less than 18 times already, the two women have not squared off against each other in more than a year, with their last meeting taking place in Miami in March 2001.

That encounter ended in a straight sets win for Williams, although Hingis is still ahead 10-8 in total victories.

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