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Hingis-Bhupathi win mixed doubles title
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-29 15:36
Martina Hingis won a Grand Slam title a month into her comeback, teaming with
India's Mahesh Bhupathi to beat Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-3 on
Sunday in the Australian Open mixed doubles final.
Switzerland's
Martina Hingis, left, runs towards her partner Mahesh Bhupathi of India as
she celebrates their win in the mixed doubles final at the Australian Open
tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006. Hingis
and Bhupathi defeated Canada's Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva 6-3,
6-3. [AP] |
Hingis, returning from a three-year retirement because of foot and heel
injuries, also had a successful run in the singles competition, making it to the
quarterfinals before losing to Kim Clijsters.
"If anyone asks me why I came back, this is why, the dream of being back on
court, of winning major titles," Hingis said.
Hingis, who began her comeback in early January at a tournament on the Gold
Coast, lost her serve when she and Bhupathi were up a break in the first set at
4-2. But they immediately broke Likhovtseva's serve for a 5-3 lead.
After the teams traded breaks early in the second set, Likhovtseva again had
problems with her serve — two volleying errors by the Russian gave Hingis and
Bhupathi three break points. They needed only one, breaking for a 4-3 lead when
Bhupathi pounced on a volley at the net.
Hingis ran up to Bhupathi and gave him a hug at the T-line when Nestor's
attempted backhand return hit the net at Rod Laver Arena.
The 25-year-Hingis has five Grand Slam singles title — three of them at the
Australian Open. She has nine Grand Slam women's doubles championships among her
36 career titles but her previous best mixed doubles result was a semifinal
appearance at the U.S. Open in 1996.
Eight of Hingis' 15 Grand Slam titles have been at Melbourne Park, including
doubles crowns in 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2002.
It was Bhupathi's sixth Grand Slam mixed doubles title — with six partners.
He also has three men's major doubles titles.
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