Swiss Martina Hingis exacted revenge over Serbian Ana Ivanovic, 6-4, 6-2, in one hour and ten minutes to win the Toray Pan Pacific Open title for a record fifth time. Hingis and Ivanovic are now even with one win apiece in their career head-to-head wins.
Hingis won the first two games of the set for an early 2-0. Just then, Ivanovic showed she’s no pushover by holding her serve and breaking Hingis’ serve. Ivanovic never allowed Hingis to score a point during the fourth game, to level the score at 2-2. Both players tried to break each other’s serve but to no avail. Ivanovic and Hingis held their respective serves twice, at 4-4. Never wanting to let her impending win slip her hands, Hingis stepped up her game, use the “tactician” inside her to outplay Ivanovic and win the next two games for a first set win at 6-4.
Hingis, with her momentum and confidence still intact, relied heavily on her groundstrokes. Hingis went on to lead Ivanovic 4-0. Ivanovic and Hingis held their respective serves in the next two games, at 5-1. Hingis never got a chance to break Ivanovic’s serve as her Serbian opponent played a love service game and made Hingis serve for the match, which she did.
Hingis’ fifth title at Tokyo is her 43rd title over-all . She broke the tie she shared with American Lindsay Davenport for the most title at this event.
“I’m very proud of my record here,” Hingis said. “I knew going into today’s match that I could make the record if I won.”
