TOKYO, Feb 1: Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis, the world's top two players, advanced to the final Satu-

rday in the Toray Pan Pacific Open women's tennis tournament, report agencies.

That set up a showdown between the longtime queen of women's tennis and the 16-year-old Swiss phenomenon who is fresh from capturing the Australian Open a week ago.

"It's not going to be an easy match tomorrow. She has been playing really well in the last few weeks," said Graf, 27. the winner of 102 singles tournaments. "I have to serve well, move around faster and make her run."

Graf was ousted in the fourth round of the Australian Open by Brenda Schultz-McCarthy of the Netherlands, but gained revenge Saturday by downing Schultz-McCarthy, the No 8 seed. 6-1. 7-5.

Hingis, whose victory at Melbourne made her the youngest Grand Slam winner this century, ousted fourth seed Anke Huber of Germany 6-1. 5-7. 6-2.

But both had problems in the semifinal matches Hingis with form and Graf with injury.

Hingis squandered six match points in the second set against battling Huber before winning, while Graf had a recurrence of a knee injury.

In addition to the injured knee. Schultz-McCarthy's power serves also troubled Graf in the second set.

Hingis was leading held two match points at 5-3 in the second set when she suffered a form reversal and lost four consecutive games as Huber staged a remarkable comeback.

The 926,250 dollars Toray Open, being held at the 8.800-sta" Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. is one of the biggest Women's Tennis Association tournaments outside of the Grand Slam series.

Graf raised her personal record against Hingis to 5-1 in the championships final in New York in November with a full-set victory of 6-3. 4-6. 6-0. 4-6. 6-0. They first met in a Paris tournament in February 1995 in which Graf won 6-2. 6-3.

Hingis knows it won't be easy to beat the veteran Graf, but she isn't giving in just yet.

Going into Sunday's final. Hingis has won 13 straight matches so far this year in Sydney. Melbourne and Tokyo.

In the doubles semifinals later in the day. No 1 seed Hingis and her American partner Gigi Fernandez beat Kristie Boogert of the Netherlands and Irina Spirlea of Romania 6-1. 6-

In the doubles final Sunday, Hingis and Fernandez take on the second-seeded pair of American Lindsay Davenport and Natasha Zvereva of Belarus, who advanced by defeating Spain's Conchita Martinez and Patricia Tarabini of Argentina 6-2. 6-3.

The doubles event offers a first prize of 45,000 dollars compared with 150,000 dollars for the singles.