BERLIN -- Anna Kournikova finally got some revenge on Martina Hingis.

After losing badly to the world's top-ranked player in their four previous matches, including three Grand Slam events, Kournikova beat Hingis 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) in the quarterfinals at the German Open Friday.

It was

Martina Hingis lost to Anna Kournikova for the first time in her career on Friday at the German Open. (AP)

the biggest career win for the 16-year-old Russian.

KOURNIKOVA, WHOSE SPECTACULAR GAME has led some to believe she could one day top the world rankings, let three match points slip away before defeating Hingis.

"I've been praying this win would come," Kournikova said. "I'm just very happy."

Kournikova, still seeking her first title, will face Conchita Martinez in Saturday's semifinals. The Spaniard beat Japan's Ai Sugiyami 6-3, 6-3.

Jana Novotna, the third-seeded Czech, also advanced, with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win against Romania's Irina Spirlea. She will face 18-year-old French qualifier Amelie Mauresmo, who downed Austria's Barbara Paulus 6-4, 6-2.

On Thursday, Hingis had dismissed talk that Kournikova was another emerging rival for her No. 1 status after Venus Williams, who has beaten her twice.

"I KNOW SHE CAN PLAY, BUT she's never shown it against me," Hingis, 17, said. "She was always too nervous."

Kournikova has risen from the world's 32nd-ranked player to No. 16 this year, beating four top 10 players at the Lipton Championships to reach her first final.

But her path to the top often has been blocked by Hingis.

This time, Kournikova was poised against the Swiss star. She used her power to win some spectacular rallies. Often she pounced on Hingis' second serve, blasting a winner down the line.

"I didn't think about who was on the other side of the net," Kournikova said. "I just played my game. I think she was surprised by that."

BUT LEADING 5-2, 40-15 IN the second set, Kournikova let all three match points slip away on errors.

"She tried to kill the ball," Hingis said. "I tried to give it to her but she wouldn't take it."

Kournikova rebounded to win the tiebreaker, ending a long rally by slamming a forehand deep into the corner for a 2-0 lead, then never letting up.

"It's not every day you have three match points against the No. 1 player," Kournikova said. "I didn't lose my concentration. It was great."

Hingis was not upset with the loss.

"It's nothing to cry about," she said. "I'll be ready for the French Open. I was just a little tired, more mentally, then physically."