Big guns head for final replay

Martina Hingis returns a shot to Barbara Schett

World number one Martina Hingis and second seed Lindsay Davenport moved a step closer to a replay of last year's Indian Wells Masters Series final with contrasting fourth round wins.

Hingis had to battle in the second set to overcome Austrian Barbara Schett 6-3 7-6 while defending champion Davenport outclassed friend and doubles partner Lisa Raymond 6-4 6-2.

The players had to move courts to make way for the start of the men's event.

"Sometimes you go to the outside stadium and it's not as friendly for the players because there are people right on top of the court," said Davenport.

"But I thought the court was great and it was a little faster, more to my liking. I thought I'd be playing in front of 10 people but it was pretty full."

Davenport is set for a showdown with Serena Williams in the quarter-finals. Williams needed six match points in the final game to put away Magdalena Maleeva, of Bulgaria, 6-3 6-2.

I knew I had to step up my game and I did

  Martina Hingis

"It's a tough draw if I play Serena," added Davenport. "She's winning quite comfortably. She's always dangerous. The last two times I've had to play very high quality tennis."

Hingis had beaten Schett in their 10 previous meetings but the Swiss struggled in the second set, going 5-4 down on service when she hit a backhand into the net.

"She stepped it up and was hitting close to the lines," said Hingis. "There wasn't much I could do about it."

But Schett was unable to serve out the set, as Hingis went on the attack and broke her with a perfect forehand winner.

The tie-break went to 4-4, then Hingis hit two baseline winners and then watched Schett send a backhand into the net.

"I knew I had to step up my game and I did," said Hingis. "It was a very intense match and tiring. But I played much better than I did in my first two matches and I'm happy about that."

Meanwhile, third-seeded Venus Williams beat Rachel McQuillan 6-4 6-2.

Anke Huber, the No. 11 seed, was eliminated by Silvia Farina Elia, 6-3 4-6 6-4.