Hingis ousts Davenport on day of upsets

INDIAN WELLS, Ca, Mar 15 (Reuters) Martina Hingis beat second seed Lindsay Davenport 6-3 1-6 6-2 to reach the Pacific Life Open quarter-finals in one of several upsets yesterday.

In the afternoon session, Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis overcame seventh seed Gaston Gaudio 6-7 6-3 6-2 and Czech teenager Tomas Berdych knocked out number nine Lleyton Hewitt 7-5 6-3.

Russia's Dinara Safina also enjoyed a big victory by ousting her fifth-seeded compatriot Anastasia Myskina 6-1 6-3, but as the evening progressed, a majority of the leading players registered victories over lower-ranked opponents.

In the men's draw, top seed Roger Federer struggled to down Belgium's Olivier Rochus 3-6 6-2 7-5, while second seed Rafael Nadal of Spain romped to a 6-1 6-4 victory over American Mardy Fish.

Women's top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne continued her amazing play with a 6-2 6-1 victory over number 14 Ai Sugiyama of Japan, while number three Maria Sharapova overcame Shahar Peer of Israel 7-6 6-1.

Just two and half months into her comeback after three years off the WTA Tour, Hingis continued her race towards the top of the rankings, showing the quick footwork and inventive play that once made her world number one.

After the taller and stronger Davenport found the range of her big serve and ground strokes in the second set, the Swiss 25-year-old rapidly regained her edge, moving her opponent around the court and retrieving a succession of heavy shots from behind the baseline.

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