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Hingis on song after win over Myskina |
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2/23/2006 7:44:05 AM |
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 DUBAI — Former world No.1 Martina Hingis hadn’t been at her usual best when she faced Indian sensation Sania Mirza in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championship at the Dubai Tennis Stadium here on Monday night.
In a game where both contestants made several unforced errors, the Swiss star emerged supreme, primarily due to her vast experience on the international circuit. Mirza erred by playing a flamboyant game, going for more adventurous shots, when she should have played a percentage game, especially at the crucial stages of the match.
She seemed to have been overawed by the presence of her supporters, who went home disappointed after seeing the early fall of their star.
However, the second round match saw Hingis, a wild card entrant here, regaining confidence, as she unveiled a range of shots in a crucial tie against Russia’s Anastasia Myskina in the second round, blasting her in straight sets 6-4 6-3.
Hingis, a five-time Grand Slam winner, admitted in the post-match Press conference: “I was a lot more focused today. I wouldn’t have reached any where had I played the same way I did last night (against Mirza.)”
”So, today’s game was definitely a big improvement.”
Though Hingis was the favourite to clinch the first round match against Mirza, Myskina, seeded sixth here, seemed to have an upper hand over the Swiss legend.
Myskina, who recently reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, couldn’t raise her game in the big match after struggling to get past China’s Zheng Jie in the first round.
With the sizzling victory over Myskina, Hingis has sent a firm signal to her opponents in the Dubai event.
She doesn’t consider her return as anything other than another part in her career.
“It shouldn’t be considered as a comeback, as I have already played many matches this year. I am just like any normal player out there.”
While talking about confidence, she said: “Yes, I am more confident now, especially after the back-to-back victories.”
Her return to the Tour has been successful as she won 11 out of 15 matches this year, including a quarter-final place at the Australian Open. She also reached the final of a Tokyo tournament and semifinal at Gold Coast.
Besides, she joined hands with the Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupati to claim the Grand Slam mixed doubles title in Melbourne.
With an upset victory over Russian star Maria Sharapova in Tokyo this year, and two contrasting victories over competent opponents here, Hingis, who won the first women’s Dubai Tennis Championship title in 2001, is confident to add another Dubai tennis crown
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