Hingis sick of the sight of Clijsters

MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) Good friends or not, Martina Hingis needs a break from Kim Clijsters.

''I don't want to see her in the quarter-finals ever again,'' Hingis quipped after her 3-6 6-4 6-3 defeat by Clijsters at the Australian Open today.

''It's like every time I get to the quarters I have to face Kim.'' Since Hingis made her comeback from a three-year hiatus 12 months ago, the duo have run into each other four times, including at last year's Australian and French Opens.

Each time it was a last eight meeting and each time the Belgian emerged the winner.

''It's great playing her and everything... but I'd prefer maybe (meeting in the) semi-finals next time,'' Hingis added.

''Sooner or later I would have to face her anyway... later would be better.'' After another unsuccessful run at a grand slam, Hingis said she had lost some elements of her game forever.

''I would have probably mentally broken other players earlier,'' said Hingis, who won her first grand slam title in Melbourne 10 years ago.

''Before I was more fearless. When I was 17, 18, those shots I would just make at 30-All, not missing a return, just give the opponent a chance to miss. Today I'm sort of too tentative instead of, okay, go for it. I'm too nice.

''I had the best chance today to beat her from all the matches we've played in the past.

''This time I stepped it up.I felt like I was winning the match and I had all the things in my hands, but she's a great fighter.'' REUTERS SAM PM1446