It didn't take Hingis long to recover

By Marc Lancaster, CNNSI.com

	• Storylines • The Number • Aces/Double Faults • Drop Shots • They Said It • Looking Ahead

As it turns out, it was a good idea for Martina Hingis to get right back on the court after her Australian Open disappointment.

It helped that the next tournament on the slate, the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, is one of the Swiss star's favorites. She won there in 1997, 1999 and 2000, and lost to Lindsay Davenport in last year's final.

Hingis was on top of her game immediately against a somewhat watered-down draw, rolling through to a final matchup with Monica Seles. In their second matchup in a week, Hingis again prevailed in three tough sets to take the title.

This was important for Hingis. Her collapse against Jennifer Capriati could have been devastating -- and it still may have some residual effects next time she plays deep into a major -- but it was important for her to get that winning feeling back immediately.

"I felt like I could have won in Melbourne and now I've won here so the confidence level is back and hopefully I can carry that over to the next tournament," said Hingis.

Hingis' next competition will come later this month in Scottsdale as the U.S. spring hardcourt season gets under way, with Indian Wells and the Ericsson Open to follow.

Here we go again

Just over two months after the 2001 Davis Cup campaign concluded with France's win at Australia, it's time to start up the Cup for 2002. Unfortunately for the Australians, a run to the final doesn't look likely this year. In fact, the Aussies will be extremely lucky to make it out of Buenos Aires with a win this weekend in the first round. Injuries and the quasi-retirement of Pat Rafter have severely weakened the Australian squad, many of whom feel they shouldn't have to be playing now anyway. After the final in December, the Aussies lobbied for first-round byes for the two finalists the following year. There's no change for this year, but it certainly is a noteworthy suggestion for the future.

Mixing it up

U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe pulled a mild surprise last week with his selection of the team for the American's first-round tie against Slovakia. Rather than selecting two or three singles players and one doubles team, as he did for last fall's tie against India, McEnroe picked five singles players. That left Don Johnson and Jared Palmer on the sidelines. Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick will be the singles players for the U.S., with the doubles team to be determined. McEnroe could team young guns James Blake and Mardy Fish together, but a more likely bet is Blake playing with veteran Todd Martin. Despite their nearly 10-year age difference, the two are good friends and might make an intriguing pair. It also wouldn't be surprising to see Blake move into one of Sunday's singles matches if the U.S. clinches by Saturday, as expected.

Aces per match so far this year for Sampras, the leading average on tour. Not bad for an old guy.

ACE Davide Sanguinetti -- At age 29, the Italian won his first ATP title over the weekend, beating Roger Federer in the final before a partisan crowd at the Milan Indoors.

DOUBLE FAULT Tommy Haas -- The German, who made more than $1.5 million in prize money last year, pulled out of his country's opening Davis Cup tie with Croatia because the German tennis federation wouldn't help him pay the roughly $86,000 for a physiotherapist.

ACE Rick Leach and Wayne Ferreira -- The veteran duo bounced back from a loss in their first round-robin match and eventually claimed the title at the eight-team World Doubles Championship in India over the weekend.

DOUBLE FAULT Mark Philippoussis -- "Scud" had his Australian driver's license suspended after he was cited for speeding on his way to a day of surfing last week.

In case you missed it, Andre Agassi and Brad Gilbert ended their long and successful partnership last week, with both saying it was time to move in a new direction.

Kim Clijsters will miss three weeks, including the Diamond Games in her native Belgium, after suffering a stress fracture in her upper arm.

Young pro Jeff Morrison, ranked 174th in the world, won his first USTA Challenger title Saturday, downing Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands in the final in Dallas. Morrison won the 1999 NCAA singles title while at Florida, defeating Harvard's Blake in that final.

Speaking of former NCAA champs, Alex Kim jumped 80 points in the entry system rankings to a career-best No. 154 after his stunning run to the third round of the Australian Open.

Dominik Hrbaty, the top-ranked Slovakian player at No. 54, will miss his country's Davis Cup tie with the U.S. because of a foot injury. That leaves the Slovaks with the rather non-threatening trio of Karol Kucera, Jan Kroslak and Karol Beck, plus a player to be named later.

Let's give credit where credit is due: Anna Kournikova pulled out a tough 7-6, 7-6 upset of Elena Dementieva last week in Tokyo, a good result for her. Kournikova then lost to Seles in the semis.

If you're so inclined, be sure to check out the new and improved AndyRoddick.com, which has undergone a complete overhaul.

Northwestern University opened a new indoor tennis center last week with a high-profile exhibition match between Blake and Martin, a former Wildcat All-American.

"The jury has been out on Swedish tennis because the media has made the most of the fact we haven't had the victories as we used to. In reality, Swedish tennis is stronger than it has been for a long time and we have a Davis Cup team of four players with the capacity to win anything."

Bjorn Borg on his country's resurgence.

"We were scared by what we had seen on TV but we are relaxed now and that is why we are here. It is just a game of tennis."

Australian team spokesman John Lindsay to The Australian upon arriving in Buenos Aires, which has been the scene of considerable unrest in recent weeks, for Davis Cup play.

This week - ATP Tour

It's Davis Cup time, with eight first-round ties on tap in the World Group. Defending champ France hosts the Netherlands, while Australian Open hero Thomas Johansson leads Sweden into Great Britain.

This week - WTA Tour

The Open Gaz de France in Paris features local favorites Amelie Mauresmo (who won it last year) and Sandrine Testud.

Next week - ATP Tour

The spring season really gets cranked up with three tournaments. There are hardcourt events in Marseille and Copenhagen, and the first tournament on clay this year, in Vina Del Mar, Chile.

Next week - WTA Tour

The Diamond Games in Antwerp and the Qatar Open are on tap.

Come back every Monday for a new Tennis Week at a Glance.

 

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