Date:25/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092510601700.htm

Sport

Hingis wins in a canter

Nandita Sridhar

Poutchkova does not trouble the top-seed for long

DELIVERING THE GOODS: Martina Hingis lived up to her reputation and justified her seeding by duly winning the event. — PHOTO: AFP

Kolkata: When on song, when things go her way, and when not pushed into serving underarm for survival, there is no one quite like Martina Hingis. The sheer sublimity of her touch makes even the most defensive shot seem a thing of beauty. On Sunday, the sheer effortlessness that she brought into her ruthlessness made the one-sided clash with Olga Poutchkova easy on the eye.

For the record, Hingis won the Sunfeast Open WTA tennis tournament beating Poutchkova 6-0, 6-4, in the final at the Netaji Indoor Stadium. But, what really mattered for tennis lovers was the sheer class of the top-seed in the first set, and the ease with which she overcame a minor hiccup in the second, when Poutchkova managed to snatch two games off her opponent's serve.

The only chance that Poutchkova had was in the second set, when she was up 3-1, thanks to a sudden surge of errors from Hingis. With a rather one-dimensional hard-hitting baseline game, the Russian did trouble Hingis on a couple of occasions in the second set, when she closed out points pounding winners down-the-line.

The first set was a nightmare for Poutchkova, who fell into Hingis's keeping-the-ball-in-play trap.

"I was a little surprised in the second set, when she kept hitting to my forehand, and hitting backhand down-the-line winners. But I stepped it up again," said Hingis.

Sania-Huber clinch doubles crown

The tournament continued favouring the top-seeds, as Sania Mirza and Liezel Huber struck stabbing volleys and ripped winners to wallop Ukrainians Yulia Beygelzimer and Yuliana Fedak, 6-4, 6-0, in the doubles final.

That start was anything but auspicious for the Indo-South African pair, as they were trailing 0-2, but it was all Huber-Mirza after that, as the errors drastically reduced. Sania showcased her trademark forehand, with Huber as sharp as always, near the net.

"This is my first title in Kolkata, so it's special. Liezel is my mentor, and a great doubles player — one of the best in the world," said Sania. "It's hard to believe Sania is just 19, and it's an honour to play with her," said Huber on their successful partnership

Sanaa Bhambri was named the most promising young player, and was presented with a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh, by Bengal Peerless.