Martina Hingis

Former world number one women's tennis player Martina Hingis has lost in the semifinals of the Australian women's hard court tournament in Gold Coast, falling to fourth seeded Italian Plavia Pennetta 1-6, 7-6, 6-2.

The loss Friday ended Hingis' three match winning streak in her first tournament since injuries forced the Swiss tennis player into retirement three years ago.

She also announced after the match that she would not play in a scheduled semifinal doubles match later Friday because of a hip injury. Hingis still intends to play in the Sydney International Tournament next week and the Australian open which begins January 16.

In the other semifinal match Friday, the Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova defeated third-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia, 6-4, 6-2.