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Ready for redemption Hingis looking to erase memories of 1999 loss
Posted: Tuesday May 30, 2000 09:31 AM
PARIS (Reuters) -- World number one Martina Hingis completed center court renovations at Roland Garros on Monday, powering into the second round of the French Open with a 6-0 6-4 demolition of Belgium's Sabine Applemans. The lopsided contest christened the refurbished Court Central that was torn down just days after Hingis experienced her own dramatic collapse, falling to Steffi Graf in last year's final. In the year since her last appearance in Paris, the 19-year-old Swiss has also had to reconstruct her career that bottomed out a few weeks later with a first round loss to qualifier Jelena Dokic at Wimbledon. Jeered and whistled off the court following her temper-tantrum filled match with Graf, Monday's sparse morning crowd appeared to have forgiven Hingis for her petulance. They politely applauded the six-time grand slam winner when she appeared on the court and Hingis's engaging smile was also back as she raced past the 24th ranked Applemans in just 52 minutes on a cool, blustery day. "Those were very tough conditions today," said Hingis, the winner of three titles already this season. "It was very cold and at particular times very windy. "But in a way I think the conditions might suit me because it was very windy at Key Biscayne and I won that tournament." In the opening set, that took just 18 minutes to complete, it looked like Hingis, not the gusting wind, would blow the Belgian off the court. Applemans, who has now failed to make it past the first round for four years in a row and has lost all six of her head-to-head meetings with Hingis, offered some resistance in the second set. But by the predictable finish, she had added her name to a growing group predicting that Hingis might finally claim the one grand slam title missing from her collection. "I think she was quite impressive," said Applemans. "She fully controls the ball even in the wind. "But what was really impressive was that once I came into the match I could see that she could still improve her game much better than me." In complete control right from the opening serve, there was little in the match to spark Hingis's temper. Last year, when leading by one set and 2-0 in the final against Steffi Graf, Hingis's game and her composure unravelled when a line call went against her. She crossed the netline to complain, breaking tennis etiquette, argued with the umpire, sat down in protest, was docked a penalty point and served underarm on match point. Crushed that the one title she wants more than any other had slipped through her fingers, a tearful Hingis had to be persuaded by her mother and coach Melanie to come back on court to attend the trophy presentation. "People remind me about it all the time," said Hingis, who was also the losing finalist in 1997. "When I look in the paper, or see magazine articles, I laugh at the pictures because it was an unbelievable emotional thing. "But I think since then many things have changed. I'm playing well and that's the most important thing to me."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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