Tennis: Precision beats muscle in teenage battle

By Foster Niumata

MELBOURNE - Martina Hingis struggled to find the right word in English, her third or fourth language. Then the message became clear.

"I always do well in Australia, so I was kind of expecting it, you know," Hingis said. "This is my surface, my - how do you say it? - territory."

Indeed. To a third successive Australian Open doubles title, Hingis added a third straight singles title on a cold, overcast Saturday, the sun only breaking through briefly during the post-match photo-shoot as Hingis clutched the Daphne Akhurst Trophy - named for the first hat-trick champion of the late 1920s - and Amelie Mauresmo held the runner-up plate.

A little more light was shed on the pre-match controversy involving the Open's first teenage finalists in 38 years. Second seed Hingis and top seed Lindsay Davenport, beaten by unseeded Mauresmo in the semis, had made wounding comments about the latter's physique and sexuality.

On Saturday, 18-year-old Hingis spoke a little to 19-year-old Mauresmo on court and revealed they will talk more. Asked if she had apologised, Hingis said, "There's nothing to apologise for."

However, Mauresmo said she got two apologies, one in writing from Davenport and the other, presumably, from Hingis. All that happened was "a little stupid," said Mauresmo, who was disappointed by the distracting slurs.

But nerves and pressure took a toll on the Grand Slam final rookie, who saved her best until the last game, when she saved six match-points with some ripping shots, before bowing 2-6 3-6 in a match closer than the score reveals.

Swiss precision beat French muscle. Hingis, taking Mauresmo more seriously after tough three-set wins over her last year, was relieved: "It's good the mind is sometimes more important than the rest."

Mauresmo has learned plenty and risen to eight spots off the top 10, where Hingis believes the Frenchwoman is headed.

During this Open, Hingis shied away from horses, in-line skating or shopping. Believing she would do well in Melbourne, she treated herself in Perth to new earrings and a necklace.

She didn't leave Melbourne empty-handed. There was a bank-loving cheque and another victory-prize toy kangaroo, her sixth. "It's a growing family," laughed the champ.