Serena Williams stayed on course for her third consecutive WTA title by beating Martina Hingis in the first semi-final at the Lipton Championships at Key Biscayne, Florida, last night. The powerful 17-year-old American, brimming with confidence, twice staged dramatic recoveries to beat Switzerland's world number-one Martina Hingis 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to chalk up her 16th straight win.

Williams's chances looked bleak when she trailed 0-3 in the first set and 2-5 in the second. But when the chips were down she opened her shoulders and went for winners to leave Hingis looking increasingly irritated. "She played a great match," Hingis admitted after her defeat. adding: "She won the last two tournaments. It's a good time for her, not for me."