Inconsistent Hingis Into Kolkata Quarters

Hingis controlled the first set but struggled with her consistency in the second. Obziler managed a break in the seventh game to even the set at 4. Hingis gave up five break points in the ensuing game and fell behind 5-4. But the former world No.1 regained control after that. She held serve, notched a break at 5-5 and served out the match to love.

"I was having problems with consistency in the second set," Hingis said. "In the first set I was on top of things, but I let her back in, was hitting the ball a little short and she stopped making errors."

"I think sometimes it's just in the head," Hingis added. "There was no reason that I wasn't playing as well in the second set. I had so many chances in the 4-4 game, but couldn't get the break. The last game on my serve was almost perfect with four first serves and backhand winners. I almost couldn't play a better game than that. So why I couldn't play that well a few games earlier, I don't know."

Hingis next faces Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn, who defeated American Abigail Spears, 26 64 62, on Wednesday.

"I've played her a couple of times," Hingis said. "Actually, she's played two almost three-hour matches here plus doubles, so hopefully she'll be tired (laughs)."

The two faced each other three times over the past eight years and Hingis always prevailed in straight sets. Tanasugarn, who was born in Los Angeles but resides in Bangkok, won her lone Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title three years ago at another Indian tournament, Hyderabad.

No.4 seed Aravane Rezai eliminated Tatiana Poutchek, 61 62, and will next play either Sandra Kloesel or Sania Mirza. Rezai seems to be in excellent hardcourt form, as she defeated Top 20 stars Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Elena Dementieva two weeks ago en route to the US Open quarterfinals.
-- WTA