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Sharapova tips Hingis to reach top 10 soon
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-02-01 11:03 TOKYO: Martina Hingis will
soon be back among the world鈥檚 elite players after making a strong return to the
game in Australia, Maria Sharapova said yesterday Jan 30.
Former world number one Hingis reached the Australian Open quarter-finals
last week in her first grand slam since retiring through injury in 2002.
鈥淲omen鈥檚 tennis is at such a high level right now that everyone in the top 10
is a rival,鈥� said Sharapova before this week鈥檚 Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Maria Sharapova (R)
of Russia and Martina Hingis of Switzerland smile during a news conference
for the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo January 30, 2006.
Former world number one Hingis climbed 232 places to number 117 at the
Women's Tennis Association world rankings on Monday after reaching the
quarter-finals in her first grand slam event Australian Open since
retiring though injury in 2002. [Reuters] |
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鈥淢artina is not in there yet but I鈥檓 sure she will quickly get into the top
10.鈥�
Sharapova won last year鈥檚 Pan Pacific Open while Hingis shares the record of
four titles with Lindsay Davenport, having won the tournament in 1997, 1999,
2000 and 2002.
Hingis began her comeback earlier this month and said her performance in
Melbourne, where she also won the mixed doubles crown with India鈥檚 Mahesh
Bhupathi, had given her a huge lift.
鈥淒efinitely I played good tennis 鈥榙own under鈥� and it is really nice to be
back,鈥� said Hingis, who received a wild card for the $1.3 million event in
Japan.
鈥淚 always had good memories in Tokyo and if I can carry on from Australia I
will be very happy. But it鈥檚 a new week and new opponents.鈥�
Russian Sharapova, who was beaten by Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne in the
Melbourne semi-finals, is scheduled to meet Hingis at the same stage at Tokyo鈥檚
Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Americans Davenport and Serena Williams pulled out last week with injury.
Four of the top eight seeds are Russian with Elena Dementieva, former French
Open champion Anastasia Myskina and Elena Likhovtseva joining Sharapova in the
draw.
n Australian Open semi-finalist Kim Clijsters replaced Lindsay Davenport at
the top of the Women鈥檚 Tennis Association (WTA) world rankings yesterday.
Former world number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland climbed 232 places to
number 117 after reaching the quarter-finals in her first grand slam event since
retiring though injury in 2002.
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