Hingis in Australian hardcourt final

Gold Coast, Australia:

Top-seeded Martina Hingis advanced to the Australian Women's Hardcourt Championship final on Friday after Tathiana Garbin of Italy was forced to retire from their semifinal with complications from a viral illness. Hingis trailed 4-3 in the first set when Garbin pulled out with breathing difficulties. Garbin got an early break to lead 3-1 before Hingis broke back to put the players back on service. Garbin said the illness had built up over a few days. "I was disappointed because I think I'm playing my best tennis," Garbin said. "I've been sick for a few days, it started in my second-round match and has just gotten worse. "In practice this morning I had real problems breathing and didn't know if I could play, but I thought about my match yesterday against (Elena) Vesnina and that I felt bad before that too. Today was the worst though and I just couldn't continue." Hingis will meet either second-seeded Dinara Safina of Russia or fifth-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel in the final Saturday. Safina and Peer played their semifinal later Friday. "Whichever girl it will be, the match will be different from any I've played at this tournament this week," Hingis said. "They both really hit hard. Safina is a tall girl and she really hits the ball, I've played her a couple of times and won. I played Peer at the French Open, it was a tough three sets."