Martina Hingis of Switzerland stretches for a volley during her quarter-final victory over Dinara Safina of Russia at the Pacific Life Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells March 15. (Retuers)

    WASHINGTON, March 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Swiss Martina Hingis Wednesday trounced Russian Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-4 at the Indian Wells tournament for the semifinals in her seventh event after the former world No. 1's comeback.

    In men's play, Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis downed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals.

    After ousting two-time winner Lindsay Davenport Tuesday, Hingis impressed against 10th-seeded Safina with her shot placement and footwork.

    Hingis, who ended a three-year retirement in January, won four straight games to lead 6-3 following a 3-3 score in the first set.

    In the second set, Hingis held serve from 0-40 down for 3-2, broke Safina in the next game, but the Russian leveled at 4-4. Hingis held again then Safina conceded the quarterfinal on serve with a fourth unforced error of the game.

    Hingis could face in the semifinals Maria Sharapova, if she could get past Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany in a late match, for the third time this year.

    The 25-year-old edged Sharapova in Tokyo then lost to her in Dubai this month. Enditem