Hingis, Davenport storming into the quarterfinals
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Top seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland and second seed Lindsay Davenport of the United States each moved a step closer to a possible showdown in the final by storming into the quarterfinals Monday at the $4.95 million Tennis Masters Series of Indian Wells. Hingis vanquished 10th seed Barbara Schett of Austria, 6-1, 6-1 as she seeks her second title here in three years. Davenport continued her blistering start to 2000, dumping ninth seed Julie Halard-Decugis of France, 6-2, 6-1, to reach the round of eight. The 1997 champion, Unseeded Chanda Rubin of the United States, a semifinalist last year, disposed of Slovakia's Karina Habsudova, 6-0, 6-1, to advance to the quarterfinals. In other women's fourth-round matches in the hardcourt tournament, No. 3 Serena Williams defeated Belgium's Kim Clijsters 6-4, 6-4; No. 5 Mary Pierce ousted No. 16 Elena Likhovtseva of Russwia 6-3, 5-7, 7-5; No. 6 Conchita Martinez beat Belgium's Dominique Van Roost 6-0, 3-0, retired; and No. 7 Monica Seles rallied to down Sabine Appelmans of Belgium 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.