 The in-form Hingis is ranked seventh in the world |
Martina Hingis reached the Australian Women's Hardcourt Championships final when semi-final opponent Tathiana Garbin had to retire ill. The top seed trailed Garbin 3-4 in the first set on the Gold Coast when the Italian decided she could not continue.
Garbin had earned an early break but Swiss player Hingis had struck back to leave the match on serve.
Hingis will meet second-seeded Russian Dinara Safin, who beat Israel's Shahar Peer 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-1, in the final.
World number 38 Garbin said she had had problems breathing for several days.
"I was disappointed because I think I'm playing my best tennis," she said.
"I've been sick for a few days - it started in my second-round match and has just gotten worse."
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