It took Martina Hingis, seeded third, an hour to beat her Austrian foe, Yvonne Meusburger, 6-2, 6-4 and advance into the fourth round of the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells in California, USA.
Hingis cruised to a 4-0 lead in the first set. With some tennis skills and a double fault from Hingis helped Meusburger win the next game. Hingis then replied by winning the next game, leaving the Swiss ace a game away from taking the first set at 5-1. Trying to hang in the game, the Austrian broke Hingis’ serve to extend the match further. Hingis then went on to break Meusburger’s serve and win the first set, 6-2.
Hingis raced to a 4-1 lead over Meusburger. Hingis began to play erratically that after three games, Meusburger levelled the score to 4-4. Hingis smelled trouble then so she stepped up her game and won the next two games, and the set, 6-4.
“The first four games it was unbelievable,” Hingis said. “That’s what I’ve been practicing for and it almost scared me,” a thrilled Hingis added.
Next opponent in the fourth round is Daniela Hantuchova. This will be Hingis’ chance to get even with Hantuchova for her quarterfinal loss at Doha, Qatar, a week ago.
