Star Hingis overshadows Sun

Swiss Miss Martina Hingis answered the challenge of China's doubles ace Sun Tiantian to become the first seeded player to advance to the second round of the China Open yesterday.

The fifth seed, trying for a second 2007 crown and the 43rd of her career, struggled to find her range throughout the match but pulled through with a 6-2, 6-3 victory to advance.

"I was not ready in the beginning of the game after rain delayed my first match on Monday," said the 26-year-old Hingis.

"I started to feel better after the first set and then my confidence came back.

"I played against Tiantian last year in Miami, I know she is dangerous in the front court so I just tried to keep her away from the net."

After an early exchange of breaks, Hingis pulled away first and led the set 3-1.

Another breaking serve in the eighth game took the Swiss to an easy 6-2 win.

Sun, a gold medalist at the Athens Olympics in 2004, managed to trouble Hingis but was unable to hold serve in the eighth game before conceding the match in one hour 13 minutes.

"I didn't play at my level," said Sun.

"I cannot handle her baseline strokes, and I lost my control to the match after the first set, it was a bad game for me."

Playing in her first China Open, Hingis is arguably the most popular player in Beijing. Her practice sessions draw more fans than center-court matches.

"I am really excited to find so many fans in China," she said.

"I cannot imagine I have so many fans until I came here. I am happy that people enjoy my game and I am glad to show great tennis in front of them."

Hingis, who returned from a three-year injury lay-off to climb to the top 10 last year, has yet to play consistent tennis this season.

Despite winning a WTA Tier I event in Tokyo, she has been forced to nurse a left hip flexor injury that sidelined her for the French Open and most of spring. The six-time Grand Slam event winner failed to go beyond the quarterfinals in major tournaments and stumbled in the third rounds at both the Australian and Wimbledon Opens.

But the disappointment, says Hingis, doesn't bother her at all.

"I really enjoy coming back and playing all over the world again," she said.

"In the first year, I got much attention and I felt much pressure. This year the public is calmer as I am fitting in the matches. People gradually know what to expect from me, I like the circumstances this year as a whole."

Hingis will next play against Chinese Peng Shuai, who eased past compatriot Xu Yifan 6-1, 6-4.

"In the match against Peng, I should be ready from the first point not after the first game," said Hingis, accompanied by her mother and one-time coach for the first time this year.

Earlier yesterday, China's Grand Slam doubles champion Yan Zi was unable to go beyond the first round, bowing to Abigail Spears of the United States 7-5, 6-3.

(China Daily 09/19/2007 page24)