Hingis Makes Victorious Return

It had been five years since eighth-seeded Martina Hingis had played in the Acura Classic.

On Tuesday afternoon, she made a triumphant return as she eliminated American qualifier Meilen Tu, 6-2, 6-3, in a second-round Acura Classic match.

Fans warmly welcomed Hingis back to Stadium Court at the La Costa Resort and Spa where she won titles in 1997 and 1999.

Playing under sunny skies and warm conditions, Hingis struggled to hold serve in the opening game of the first set as she fell behind 0-40. But she won five of the next six points including an ace to hold serve.

At 2-2, it looked like the Hingis of old as the Swiss Miss lost only four points in winning four straight games to take a one set to love lead in the match.
In the third set, Hingis took command early and established a 4-1 lead and cruised to a 5-3 lead. Serving for the match, Hingis got to 30-30.

Tu, who defeated fellow American Laura Granville in the first round, hit a down the line passing shot wide to give Hingis her first match point of the afternoon.

The match ended when Tu netted a crosscourt backhand. Hingis did not lose .

“Coming off a long layoff, it’s never easy,” said Hingis, who was playing her first match since losing in the third round at Wimbledon.

“The first game was pretty tense, coming back I held serve every single time,” Hingis added. “I felt like I was putting her under pressure. It was a good win. Every (win) is a good one.”

• Hingis advances to the third round where she will play unseeded Anna Chakvetadze of Russia.
• Hingis is ranked 13 in the world.
• Hingis is making her sixth career Acura Classic appearance but first since 2001. She won the title here in 1997 defeating Monica Seles in the final and in 1999 defeating Venus Williams in the final.
• Hingis improves her 2006 match to 38-12.
• Hingis improves her Acura Classic record to 15-3.
• Hingis now leads Tu 2-0 in career head-to-head meetings.
• Tu is ranked 91.
• Tu was making her eighth career Acura Classic appearance.
• Tu defeated Hingis in the 1994 US Open junior girl’s singles final.

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