Davenport puts an end to Hingis’ winning streak

“I’ll just start again,” she said. “You’re never happy when you lose, but it makes it easier for me.”

Davenport will face the second seed Monica Seles, who defeated Amy Frazier of the US 6-0, 6-2 in the evening semi-final.

Hingis said she was tired after playing her third tournament in California in as many weeks, having won titles at Stanford and San Diego. “Sometimes you’re also a human being,” she said. “It’s like a car — there’s no gas in there anymore.”

Davenport, the fourth seed, looked like she was out of energy in the third set. Leading 5-0 and owning two service breaks, Davenport was within two points of closing out the upset when she committed two unforced errors to hand Hingis the game.

The Swiss girl smiled and shook her head in relief. “I was tired when I went on the court and I thought she was going to kill me,” Hingis said. “I was happy I made one game. I didn’t want to lose 6-love.”

Davenport faltered in the seventh game. She served with a 5-1, 40-15 lead and Hingis fought off the two match points with two straight winners for deuce. Two backhand errors by Davenport gave Hingis the break at 2-5.

Hingis then won four straight games with her amazing array of line-kissing shots to close to 4-5 as Davenport struggled with an errant forehand and numerous errors.

“At 5-love it seems like it’s definitely over and she didn’t look to be into it anymore,” Davenport said. “Then she started making a few shots and I started missing. You can’t give the number one player in the world too many chances to win.”

With Hingis serving to stay in the match, Davenport took a 30-love lead on a backhand volley winner. Hingis sent a backhand wide to set up the third match point. Hingis’ next backhand hit the net tape and fell back down on her side to end her amazing run of victories.