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Off and running Hingis kicks off new season in Hopman Cup
Updated: Sunday December 31, 2000 8:54 PM
PERTH, Australia (AP) -- Top-seeded Switzerland, led by Martina Hingis in a new figure-hugging outfit, overcame last year's surprise finalists Thailand 3-0 Sunday in the opening match of the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament. Hingis, bidding to win the Hopman Cup for the first time in four visits to Perth, crushed Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1, 6-1 in just 44 minutes. Roger Federer then recovered from dropping his serve in the opening game to beat Paradorn Srichaphan 6-4, 6-2. In the mixed doubles, Hingis and Federer swept to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Tanasugarn and Srichaphan for the 3-0 victory. Tanasugarn appeared as if she would provide stern opposition in the opening few games, making some good returns and catching Hingis with some well-placed groundstrokes. But Hingis, playing in the outfit that features one long sleeve and one short in order to protect her hitting arm, broke the Thai to love to claim a 3-1 lead and then took almost total control. With Tanasugarn struggling with her serve and Hingis taking every opportunity to come to the net, the world No. 1 again broke Tanasugarn to love to lead 5-1 and served out for the set. In the second set, Hingis swept the first five games, although she had to hold off two break points at 3-0. Tanasugarn earned some respectability by breaking Hingis as she served for the match, but Hingis tied things up in the next game by breaking Tanasugarn for the sixth time. "I was in Florida working out for the last three weeks and I felt very good going out there," said Hingis. "I had a month off and just hoped I could continue the way I finished the year. "I like to come in [to the net] in the indoor season, and when you feel good about your physical condition, and against players like Tamarine, I should be trying out different things." The only problem that Hingis might suffer from with her new outfit is an uneven suntan on her arms. Otherwise, she's happy with the unusual design. "There was a lot of discussion and testing with the materials, and it came out great," said Hingis. "I've been practicing with it and I felt very good. "It's still a little different when you play, but it was a great warm-up match and the more I play with it I hope it's going to be fine." Paradorn gave Thailand early encouragement of leveling the match by breaking Federer in the first game, but after failing to convert three break points to level at 2-2 Federer got back on level terms in the sixth game when Srichaphan netted a backhand. Federer then struck a winning backhand volley to break again for the set, and a break for 4-2 in the second set virtually assured the Swiss of victory. Hingis, who was reported to have had a disagreement with doubles partner Anna Kournikova during an exhibition match in South America, will play doubles with Monica Seles during the Australian Open which begins on Jan. 15, and possibly at next week's leadup event at Sydney. In Hopman Cup matches Monday, the United States, represented by Seles and Jan-Michael Gambill, plays Slovakia and Russia takes on Belgium.
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