Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis continued their stunning US Open form as they defeated the Chinese Taipei pair of Yung-Jan Chan and Hao-Ching Chan in the quarterfinals of the competition on Tuesday. With the score reading 7-6 (7-5), 6-1, the top seeds have reached the semifinals of the US Open women's doubles.
The Indo-Swiss pair, who had not been troubled by any pair in the competition coming into this quarterfinal, were put to the test by the ninth seeds in the first set. Both the pairs played some quality tennis in the first set to take it to a tie-break.
However, the experience of Sania and Hingis eventually helped them take the crucial first set.
After taking the lead, Sania and Hingis outplayed Yung-Jan and Hao-Ching in the second set. It was a dominating performance by the top seeds as the Chinese Taipei player looked helpless against some top class doubles play by Sania and Hingis.
Sania and Hingis' second set performance just established why they are one of the favourites to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles, after clinching Wimbledon in July.
With a straight-set victory over the Taipei pair, the top seeds are yet to drop a set in the competition and if they play in the same vein, it will take something special from their opponents to defeat them.
Though there were no aces from the Indo-Swiss pair during the quarterfinals, they were strong on serve, with 70 percent of their first serves in. What must have been encouraging was the fact that Sania and Hingis only committed a single double fault in the entire match.
Such stats will give them further confidence as they are set to face the 11th seeded Italian pair, Sara Errani and Flavia Pennetta, in the semifinals of the US Open.