Hingis enjoying time at home with easy win at Zurich tennis
October 12, 2000
By Kevin Stevens SportsTicker Contributing Editor
ZURICH, Switzerland (Ticker) - World No. 1 Martina Hingis looked right at home today,
demolishing Russian qualifier Anastasia Myskina, 6-0, 6-4, to cruise into the semifinals of
the $1 million Swisscom Challenge tennis event.
Still searching for her first career title in her native Switzerland, Hingis took no mercy
on Myskina, disposing of the 19-year-old Russian in just 47 minutes.
"I played a very good first set," said Hingis, who was coming off her sixth tournament win
of the season Sunday in Filderstadt. "I felt in control, I felt she had a lot of respect for
me. I think at that point you have the match half won."
Despite living just a few miles from the Schluefweg Arena, where the hardcourt tournament
is being staged, Hingis has not enjoyed much of a home-court advantage. None of her 32 career
titles have come on home soil.
It was at the Zurich tournament that Hingis made her professional debut six years ago
as a 14-year-old, but world's No. 1-ranked players has reached the final here only twice.
But Hingis'play thus far indicates that the 20-year-old is determined to add the Zurich
title to her trophy case. She has dropped just nine games on route to the semifinals.
Myskina, who reached the quarterfinals with an upset win over eighth-seeded Olympic
silver medalist Elena Dementieva, was trampled by Hingis, who raced through the opening set
in just 17 minutes.
When the Russian finally held serve to open the second set, the soldout crowd actually applauded,
hoping that the match might extend beyond the time it took most to settle into their seats.
But after trading breaks twice, a refocused Hingis quickly put an end to any idea of a
third set, breaking the Russian to go ahead 5-4 and finishing the match with a drop shot.
"In the second set, she picked things up a bit and I made a few mistakes," Hingis said.
"I seemed to have a lot of things on my mind. I was looking around in the stands for friends
and I lost a bit of focus. To keep up the level of the first set isn't easy."
By reaching the semifinals, Hingis also maintained her hold on the No. 1 ranking for at
least another week.
Davenport arrived in Zurich with an opportunity to reclaim the top spot but needed to win
the title for a third time and have Hingis crash out before the semifinals