Martina Hingis

Former world number one women's tennis player Martina Hingis of Switzerland has reached the semifinals of the Australian women's hard court tournament in Gold Coast.

Hingis, playing in her first full event since coming out of retirement, beat Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives in three sets (6-2, 4-6, 6-0).

In the semifinals, Hingis takes on fourth-seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy, a three-set winner over Tatiana Golovin of France (6-2, 5-7, 6-3).

The other semifinal has third-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia facing Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic.

Safina ousted Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in straight sets (6-1, 6-3). Safarova scored an upset win over top seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland (6-4, 6-3).