Hingis advances at Australian Open
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-21 13:33

The 25-year-old Swiss star has lost only 10 games in three matches here, but that doesn't mean she's been cruising.

"I don't think it was that easy when I was down 3-1 today," she said. "Every match I get out here is a coming back home."

With every win comes increasing expectations.

"Coming into this tournament, I was like, 'OK, tough first round, see if I survive that one first,'" she said. "But one by one ... expectations definitely grow. With every match I'm getting more confidence."

Hingis was broken in the fourth game but broke back immediately.

After Benesova held for a 4-3 lead, Hingis won seven straight games before the 22-year-old Czech held again.

Hingis won at love, closing with an ace to lead 5-1. Then she broke for the sixth time, sealing the match in 66 minutes on Benesova's 27th error.

Hingis' serve has continued to improve as her comeback progresses.

She got 64 percent of her first serves in and won almost 80 percent of those points on Saturday.

Hingis next plays the winner of Saturday's match between Australia's Samantha Stosur and Sybille Bammer of Austria.

On Friday night, defending champion Serena Williams fended off four match points before she was upset 6-1, 7-6 (5) by 17th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova in the third round.

Williams' loss means there will be no repeat singles champion.

Marat Safin, the 2005 men's winner, didn't make it to Melbourne due to a knee problem.

Women's No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and No. 4 Maria Sharapova advanced, as did men's No. 2 Andy Roddick and No. 4 David Nalbandian.

Roger Federer, the overwhelming favorite in the men's draw, was to play Max Mirnyi in the third round later Saturday.