|
Hingis upset at US Open
01/09/2006 10:10 - (SA)
New York - Martina Hingis, the five-time Grand Slam champion back on tour after a three-year retirement, was beaten 6-2, 6-4 by 112th-ranked Virginie Razzano of France on Thursday in the biggest upset of the US Open so far.
Hingis came into the day with a 44-14 mark this season, with none of the losses to anyone ranked lower than 23rd. Ten of her setbacks came against women who've won major championships.
"It's not only that she played well, but I didn't play good," Hingis said. "I was a little flat and tired mentally. It just wasn't my day."
Plus, it was the earliest US Open defeat of Hingis' career; she won the 1997 title, reached two other finals here and never had lost before the fourth round.
Razzano, in contrast, never has been past the third round at this or any other major. She began the week with a 9-17 record in 2006, including first-round losses at the French Open and Wimbledon.
"I played my game," said Razzano, who lost both of her previous matchups with Hingis in straight sets.
About the only intrigue involved in the matches played earlier on Thursday by Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport was just how lopsided their victories would be.
Serena Williams won in straight sets, too, although not before falling behind early. Fellow past champions Justine Henin-Hardenne and Svetlana Kuznetsova never were challenged.
Most of the buzz around the grounds focused on Thursday night's late match between Andre Agassi and eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis - and what tennis was played in the afternoon didn't exactly thrill.
So Agassi provided the day's signature moment without striking a ball: After a morning practice session, he autographed a teen's forehead with a felt-tip pen, even making sure the final "i" was dotted.
Hingis aside, it was one 6-1 set after another for top women, or so it seemed. Well, not for Davenport: She beat Jelena Kostanic 6-0, 6-0.
"These days don't happen that often, so you have to be happy when they come your way," said Davenport, who arrived in New York with right arm problems but hasn't shown any signs of distress. "Some days, everything just seems to be working."
That certainly was the case for champion Sharapova, who lost the first point of her match against Emilie Loit, then won 29 of the next 31 en route to a 6-0, 6-1 victory.
Kuznetsova beat 16-year-old Lauren Albanese of the United States 6-1, 6-1, while Henin-Hardenne eliminated 17-year-old Vania King of the United States 6-1, 6-2.
Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo had no trouble beating Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States 6-4, 6-3.
- SAPA
|
