CARLSBAD. California, Aug 7: Top-seeded Martina Hingis beat South Africa's Joannette Kruger 6-1, 6-3 on Thursday night to advance to the semifinals of the Toshiba Tennis Classic, reports AP.

"I came into the match very confident,” said Hingis, who beat Kruger 6-0, 6-0 in the Lipton Championships in Maren. "She’s not as fast as other players. so it gives you time to get into your game."

Hingis, the 17-year-old Swiss star preparing for her US Open title defence, reached the semifinals for the ninth time in 11 tournaments this year. She has won four tournaments this year, including the Australian Open.

On Saturday, -she will face the winner of Friday's quarterfinal match between third-seeded Venus Williams and Mary Pierce. Williams overpowered Chanda Rubin 6-3, 6-2 in a second-round match Thursday.

Second-seeded Lindsay Davenport and eighth-seeded Nathalie Tauziat also won second-round matches to set up a quarterfinal meeting. Davenport beat Lisa Raymond 6-1. 6-4. and Tauziat defeated Amy Frazier 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Davenport rolled through the first set against Raymond, but fell behind 4-2 in the second. She held serve in the seventh game en route to the victory.

"I think that was a big game." said Davenport, coming off a three-set victory over Williams on Sunday in the final of the Bank of the West tournament. "Obviously, she was on a roll there and I was struggling."

Williams was not pleased with her play.