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Hingis claims record fifth Pan Pacific Open

Malisse reaches the Delray Beach final

VICTOR AND THE VANQUISHED: Martina Hingis got the better of Ana Ivanovic. — Photo: AP

TOKYO: Former World No.1 Martina Hingis on Sunday claimed a record fifth Pan Pacific Open tennis title, beating fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-2.

The 26-year-old Swiss added to the titles she won here in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

``I knew before the match that I could make the record. I really feel at home being here in front of the crowd and the public have been supporting me the last 10 years I've been able to play here,'' said Hingis.

``Last year, I was already happy to make the final. I had a win over Maria Sharapova, and this year Ana was the winner over her. I think the last time we played was also in the final, so I had nothing to lose basically.

``She had a great tournament to get into the finals. Now we have 1-1 (head-to-head against Ivanovic), so hopefully there will be many more finals against each other.''

Ivanovic, who lost her opening service game after four deuces, fired a couple of fine service return winners to tie the first set 2-2, but it was her last break opportunity of the match.

The better player

Hingis proved the better player in long rallies, winning 19 points in a row from 30-30 in the eighth game to 0-15 in the third game of the second set.

After losing the first set, a disappointed Ivanovic hit three double faults to lose the first game of the second set, and never recovered, allowing Hingis to chalk up a 4-0 lead before cruising to victory.

Hingis notched up a new personal best for the most titles at a single event, besting the four trophies she took home at Filderstadt between 1996 and 2000.

Former World No.1 Lindsay Davenport of the United States had also won four titles in Tokyo between 1997 and 2004.

With her first victory of the season, which brought her a $182,000 cheque, Hingis avenged her two-set loss to Ivanovic at the Montreal final in August last year in their only previous encounter.

The results:

At Tokyo (WTA Toray Pan Pacific Open): Final: Martina Hingis bt Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-2.

At Delray Beach (ATP Delray Beach International): Semifinals: James Blake bt Benjamin Becker 6-3, 7-6(7); Xavier Malisse bt Vince Spadea 6-2, 6-2.

At Zagreb (ATP PBZ Zagreb Indoors): Semifinals: Ivan Ljubicic bt Mikhail Youzhny 2-6, 6-3, 7-5; Marcos Baghdatis bt Alexander Peva 6-4, 6-3.

At Vina Del Mar (ATP Movistar Open): Semifinals: Nicolas Massu bt Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-3; Luis Horna bt Martin Vassallo Arguello 7-5, 6-4. — Agencies

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