Davenport, Hingis Are of a Single Mind

From the standpoint of interpersonal relationships, it’s alarming how readily doubles partners shed their allegiance to each other once a net comes between them. In the quarterfinals of the singles at the U.S. Open, it’s every woman and teen for herself.

Four friends of convenience--two sets of doubles partners--met on a chilly and blustery day Wednesday, and, if not for the air kisses at the net after the match, it would have been easy to miss the line between friendship and competition.

Top-seeded Martina Hingis is always clear on the placement of that line and took 62 minutes to defeat her doubles partner, 10th-seeded Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, 6-3, 6-2.

In the other quarterfinal, sixth-seeded Lindsay Davenport defeated her doubles partner, third-seeded Jana Novotna, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).

It is the first time Davenport has advanced to the semifinals of a Grand Slam event. Hingis will play Davenport--one of only two women to have beaten her this year--in one semifinal.

As if the four players hadn’t had enough of each other’s company, the two doubles teams will play each other today in the semifinals.

The hot, humid weather left town overnight and was replaced by autumn--a cold wind blew throughout the day, snapping the flags atop Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Hingis called the weather “weird” but had nothing but praise for her performance.

“I almost didn’t make one mistake, and I played very focused,” she said. “It is very easy so far for me to play this tournament.”

It was easy, apparently, to beat Sanchez Vicario. The two have been playing doubles since April and have won one title.

They have played each other in singles five times, with Sanchez Vicario winning once.

The ability to overcome adversity and her fighting spirit used to carry Sanchez Vicario beyond the realm of her ability. It was that scrappiness that Hingis admired and what drew the young player to the Spaniard as a doubles partner.

Hingis has gained much from her partnership with Sanchez Vicario. The 25-year-old has taught the Swiss teenager patience and some strategy. Hingis turned both attributes against her partner Wednesday.

Davenport and Novotna were buffeted by the same wind during their day match. Davenport’s heavy ground strokes were carried out of the court and the Czech’s stratospheric service toss was blown sideways.

“I know that Lindsay could serve harder than she did today, of course,” Novotna said. “I can serve harder than I did. We couldn’t, we had to go for safe first serves. It’s difficult to play in the wind. You basically cannot play your game.”

Davenport also had service problems.

“The wind took my toss places that it’s never gone before,” she said, laughing. In fact, Davenport awkwardly stretched to get to a service toss and slammed her racket into her knee.

That came in the first set, which Davenport had little trouble winning.

Novotna won the second set, the first time she has been able to win a set against Davenport. Given Novotna’s minimal preparation for this tournament, she did well to win a set. After straining a stomach muscle during the Wimbledon final, Novotna played only Fed Cup and part of one tournament before the Open.

“I definitely didn’t start the match very well,” Novotna said. “[Then] I was able to find my game. Started to be a little more aggressive. I kept fighting. At the end, there is nothing to be disappointed about.”

One possible disappointment was the match point she had in the third set at 5-4 after overcoming a 1-4 deficit. Davenport held on when an angled backhand approach was blown just out.

Neither player served well in the tiebreaker, and Davenport won it on a forehand passing shot.