Fourth seed Kim Clijsters [ Images ] overcame a late wobble to beat Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova [ Images ] 6-1, 7-5 on Monday and set up a mouth-watering Australian Open [ Images ] quarter-final against Martina Hingis [ Images ].

• Images from day seven

Belgian Clijsters, playing her last Australian Open, saw off her 15th-seeded opponent in 79 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to reach the last eight at Melbourne [ Images ] Park for the fifth time.

"I played one looser game and that made her really step up," Clijsters told a news conference. "In the second set she was taking some more risks and was a bit more aggressive and it worked for her.

"I feel like I'm seeing the ball well and moving well but it's hard to say how close to my best I am."

Clijsters made a fast start and breezed through the opening set in 27 minutes, but Hantuchova dug in to level the second at 5-5.

Clijsters maintained her composure despite wasting four match points before clinching victory on her fifth when her opponent sent a backhand wide. The 23-year-old Clijsters, who is retiring at the end of the year, has not dropped a set in the tournament and is looking forward to facing her good friend Hingis in a repeat of last year's quarter-final which the Belgian won.

"It's going to be fun," Clijsters said. "Tomorrow is a completely different match from last year, she has beaten me before. You always have to be ready for your opponent to play their best tennis."