Hingis set for Top 15 after Rome title triumph

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

Rome (dpa) - Martina Hingis won her first title of this season's successful return to tennis as she defeated determined Russian Dinara Safina 6-2, 7-5 Sunday at the 1.34-million-dollar Rome Masters.

The Swiss will move to around 14th in the WTA rankings on Monday, a standing sure to boost her growing confidence for Sunday's start of the French Open in Paris.

"I never thought I'd be here again," said Hingis, who began 2006 without a ranking after reversing a three-year retirement caused by foot and ankle injuries.

"They say to never give up hope and keep fighting - well, here I am. It's just great to be back on top of the game."

Hingis, 25, gave a hint of her renewed prowess last February when she lost the Tokyo final to Elena Dementieva a week after reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals.

She now has a growing chance to perhaps add to her collection of five Grand Slam trophies as she plays again in Paris at the only major she has never won.

"I had my chances in the past," said the Swiss who lost the 1999 Paris final to Steffi Graf. "I'm still an underdog.

"But this win will give my confidence a big boost. There are many good players who can do well in Paris."

Hingis lifted her last title in Tokyo in February, 2002, ten months before retiring. Against Safina, she was dominant on the clay of the Foro Italico, racing away to 5-0 and surviving a break, which she quickly put right to claim the opening set 6-2.

Hingis ran into resistance as she tried to serve it out 5-4 in the second set, with the gritty Safina salvaging two match points to battle on.

A break of Hingis for 5-all stretched the drama before the Swiss wrapped up victory after saving three break points in the final game and coming through on a fourth match-winning chance after one hour, 26 minutes.

The victory marked the 41st in singles for the prodigy who lifted five Grand Slam trophies before turning 20.

Victory marked the second Rome crown for Hingis, who also won it in 1998 over Venus Williams, whom she stopped in a Saturday semifinal to reach the Foro Italico title date.

The 16th-seeded Safina had mown down top opposition all week, beating favourite Kim Clijsters and following on with seeds and fellow Russians Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Hingis showed promise of things to come in February when she played the Tokyo final against Dementieva in February, after reaching the Australian Open quarters.

She now stands 21-3 since returning to the sport in January.