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Hingis reaches German Open final with one-sided win

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Posted: Saturday May 15, 1999 04:23 PM

Martina Hingis dominated Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-4, 6-0 in the semifinal of the German Open. AP

BERLIN (AP) -- Martina Hingis tries to make it four-for-four in title matches when she plays Julie Halard-Decugis of France in the final of the German Open on Sunday.

Hingis, No. 1 in the rankings, sailed into her fourth final this year when she routed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-4, 6-0 Saturday.

The 18-year-old Swiss player erased a 1-3 first set deficit and drove Sanchez-Vicario all over the court with drop volleys and precise shots driven into the corner.

"I'm satisfied with the match," said Hingis. "I had some problems at the start but I totally controlled the second set."

Halard-Decugis, who had never reached a semifinal before, posted a 6-2, 6-2 win against Romanian Ruxandra Dragomir. Neither was seeded.

Hingis needed 66 minutes to convert her third match point with a spectacular running backhand lob after Sanchez-Vicario sent a volley flying into the corner.

Hingis had more trouble with the chill and rain that delayed the contest's start for an hour than Sanchez-Vicario, struggling to regain form nine days before opening the defense of her French Open title.

"I was warm inside but the skin was so tight on my legs it was frozen," said Hingis. "Tomorrow, if it's like this I'll wear pants. I don't want to get injured before the French Open."

Sanchez-Vicario's right thigh bothered her the entire week and was treated during the second set as Hingis kept warm by hitting with a ballboy.

"It doesn't feel good, but that's not why I lost," said Sanchez-Vicario. "She just has more confidence and didn't make as many mistakes."

The Spanish player has been knocked out of several tournaments this year, although she won at Cairo and reached the semifinals of Hamburg.

She had already played two three-set matches in this tournament, including a tour season record of two hours 59 minutes against American Corina Morariu.

 

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