Former champion Hingis crashes out
Former champion Hingis crashes out
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Friday, 30, Jun 2006 09:26
Former champion Martina Hingis crashed out in the second round at Wimbledon after losing a nail biting final set against Japan's Ai Sugiyama.
The 1997 winner broke Sugiyama twice to lead 3-0 in the decisive set but lost her way eventually losing 7-5 6-3 6-4.
Hingis, 25, had not dropped a set before today's match on Centre Court but lost the opener after Sugiyama battled back from a break down.
But the Swiss former world number one then took the match into a decider after breaking her opponent's first service game and holding on to take the second set.
Hingis, making her first appearance at SW19 for five years, then crucially double-faulted on break point to give the Japanese 18th seed a 6-5 lead before she served out the match.
Hingis said afterwards she was at a loss to explain how she lost the match when 3-0 up.
"It's not like I didn't feel comfortable out there," she said. "there's no explanation right now for me.
"I played well, even in the third set. I had the momentum, I just couldn't finish it off.
"Sugi doesn't really have a weakness. She's a very good player. She's really strong on the baseline and her game's more effective on this surface. She's a tough cookie."
Elsewhere, debutant Na Lai became the first Chinese player to reach the fourth round after beating fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets.