KEY POINTS:
Big-hitting Russian Dinara Safina outlasted world tennis No 7 Martina Hingis to win a thrilling final at the Australian Women's Hardcourts Championships on the Gold Coast yesterday.
The 20-year-old Safina triumphed 6-3 3-6 7-5 in two hours, 10 minutes in a high-quality decider between the top seeds at Royal Pines Resort. It was a tremendous effort from Safina, considering the world No 10 had played a gruelling semifinal against Israeli teenager Shahar Peer before backing up in the doubles the previous night.
In stark contrast, five-time grand slam champion Hingis had spent just three hours, 27 minutes on court this week compared to Safina's six hours, 41 minutes heading into yesterday's decider. It's the first time Safina has defeated Hingis in three attempts, including a final in Rome in May last year.
"Everyone's going to have to watch her because she's going to be even better than her brother [former men's world No 1 Marat Safin]," Hingis declared at the post-match presentation.
Safina, sidelined towards the tailend of last season with medical fatigue syndrome, won the opening set 6-3 but the 26-year-old Hingis claimed the second set by the same scoreline to set up an exciting finish. The Russian led 4-2 in the third set but allowed Hingis back into the match between the 2006 Gold Coast semifinalists.
Safina eventually edged ahead 6-5 and Hingis crumbled on serve in the next game as her opponent took out the championship with a forehand winner. "I hope it's not our last final... and good luck in the Australian Open," she said to Hingis before holding the trophy aloft.