HILTON HEAD ISLAND. South Carolina. Apr 3: World number one Martina Hingis was cruising agai-

nst 11th seed Natasha Zvereva of Belarus, then found herself in a real battle before pulling out a victory in the quarterfinals of the Family Circle Cup on Friday, reports Reuters.

The Swiss star needed only 24 minutes to win the first seven games but was extended twice that long the rest of the way before finishing off Zvereva 6-0, 7-6.

Hingis will face Wimbledon champion Jana Novontna, the third seed, in today's semifinal.

Usually lightly regarded at Sea Pines Racquet Club as a hard-court player. Novotna played perfect clay-court tennis to dominate 16lh seed Henrieta Nagyova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-4.

Seventh seed Anna Kournikova of Russia will clash with sixth seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the other semifinal. Kournikova led unseeded Andrea Glass of Germany 6-2. 2-1 when Glass retired with a left hip injury.

Schnyder held off 14th seed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia 6-3. 4-6, 7-6. Likhovtseva had scored a straight-set upset of second seed Monica Sefes in a match that ended late Thursday night.

Hingis, winner of this tournament in 1997, had little trouble against Zvereva through 3-1 in the second set. Zvereva seldom extended rallies in the first 10 games as she hit balls into the bottom of the net or far off the court.

Just that quickly, however. Zvereva found the game that has made her the world's number one doubles player, a finalist here twice and a semifinalist

three limes.

Zvereva started hitting lines and throwing in big serves. Caught off guard. Hingis nearly lost the second set.

"It was like two points away from victory (in the 10th game).

. and all of a sudden I was almost down." Hingis said. "Now, 1 felt like I was going to lose the second set. I was like, no way this can happen."

Down 15-40 on her serve at 5-5. Hingis chased down what looked like an easy pul away at the net by Zvereva to stay in the game. Hingis eventually won the game for 6-5. but Zvereva held service at love to force ihe

tiebreaker.

”1 think that was kind of an Important game." Hingis said. "She was up 40-15 and had this easy forehand."

Once in the tiebreaker, however. Zvereva looked like she was playing the first set again. She could not keep the ball in

play.

"It might look very easy in the beginning, but somehow she kind of always mixes up. slices, powers you and then you just tally gel out of rhythm sometimes." Hingis said. "That's how she beats players."

Novotna looked capable of beating anyone, even Hingis and even on clay. But the talented Czech would Just as soon be playing someone else. "I Just wish I could be on the other side of the draw." Novotna Joked.

A semifinalist here in 1996. Novotna admitted that she does have the physical game to fare well on clay, she just needs to make the mental adjustment.

"Sometimes it is all in my head. yeah, because I grew up on clay and I do have good variety, which is great for clay court." Novotna said.

"Sometimes I'm not patient, enough and sometimes I just get frustrated with bad bounces and just being on the court for a very long time."

Novotna showed greater patience and greater finesse than Nagyova. who defeated Seles last month on hard court and upset defending champion Amanda Coetzer here Thursday.

Nagyova did not have a weapon to finish a point off. She. could win a point only when Novotna committed an error. That did not happen often as Novotna won six games in succession after a 2-2 start.

"I started to play well right from the beginning, and didn't basically give her a chance to come back into the match." said Novotna, the world's fourthranked player.

That's the way you have to play against Nagyova. because she's obviously a very tough op-,ponent. She had a good win against Coetzer. and I took her very seriously."