Hingis comfortably beat Cho 6-0 6-0

Hingis witnesses new level

Martina Hingis said on Wednesday that women's tennis has become bigger and badder over the last few years but firmly believes she has the tools to survive. "The game has just got more relentless," Hingis told Reuters in an interview after a making a winning start at the Pan Pacific Open.

"From the first point you really just have to be focused and on full-time. If you let down a little bit, the players come back at you and bite you.

"But I'm confident. The potential is there and I'm improving every week."

The former world number one began her comeback to the professional game last month and reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in her first grand slam since retiring through injury in 2002.

A rejuvenated Hingis was never in danger during her first round match in Tokyo, trouncing South Korea's Cho Yoon-jeong 6-0 6-0 to set up a second round clash with France's Nathalie Dechy.

But the "Swiss Miss" acknowledged that there was a still a considerable gap between her and the world's top players.

"You can't come back and think the game you played before will be good enough," said the 25-year-old, who climbed 232 spots to number 117 in this week's world rankings.

"If I want to survive in the game I have to be better than I was three years ago. The game has improved. The depth is deeper. There are more girls that can come out and win tournaments.

"There's a big step from the top 10 even to the top 20. But definitely, the determination and passion for the game are still there."

Hingis won the last of her five grand slam singles titles at the 1999 Australian Open. She was a beaten finalist in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

WANING FORCE

Hingis retired with chronic ankle problems later that year, already a waning force in a sport increasingly dominated by power hitters.

The 2006 version is more philosophical than the player who walked away from the game frustrated and disillusioned following several operations to repair her damaged ankles.

"I really didn't have any expectations," she said of her comeback. "I didn't know if I could succeed but now I have the confidence and the nerves have settled."

Hingis looked sharp at last month's Australian Open, eventually falling to Belgium's Kim Clijsters 6-3 2-6 6-4 in the last eight.

She also won the Melbourne mixed doubles title with India's Mahesh Bhupathi.

"I exceeded my expectations," said Hingis. "I really don't know what the goals are. I definitely want to play at the highest level. I just want to go as far as it takes me."

Hingis admitted that she was still not totally pain-free but said she was taking care to avoid a flare-up of her old injuries.

"The ankle is so far, so good," she said. "You always have some pain and aches. This time around, I know where my deficits are and I have to know how much I can take and when to stop.

"Once you come this far the most important thing is to stay healthy."

Hingis wild card for Indian Wells
From correspondents in Indian Wells
February 04, 2006

SWISS comeback queen Martina Hingis has accepted a wild card berth to next month's Pacific Life Open in what will be her first tournament on North American soil in three years.

Tournament spokesman Steve Simon announced Friday that the five-time Grand Slam champion is entered in the main singles draw.

The former Pacific Life Open winner has made a successful return to the WTA Tour this year after taking three years off to recover from injuries.

Hingis reached the semis of a tournament in Australia's Gold Coast and the quarters of the Australian Open where she lost to Kim Clisters.

Hingis won the singles title in the Palm Spring's area tournament in 1998, by beating American Lindsay Davenport in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.