If It’s Sunday, It’s Hingis Over Seles

It seems that a vital element that has been missing in women’s tennis has arrived to fill the vacuum left by post-operative Steffi Graf.

There is a weekly foil for Martina Hingis.

Monica Seles has stepped forward, and though she bristles at being called a “veteran” at 23, it appears that only a player of her experience is capable of competing with the teenager.

Hingis ran her season record to 54-1 Sunday by defeating Seles, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, in the final of the Toshiba Tennis Classic on a warm and sunny day at the La Costa Resort. Hingis, 16, won her ninth title of the year and $79,000. Seles earned $36,000.

Hingis, ranked No. 1, and Seles, No. 3, are cultivating a rivalry that promises to be captivating for at least the rest of the year. Like all proper rivalries, theirs pits two people with contrasting personalities and styles.

“Yes, we are rivals,” Seles said. “We’ve played so many matches in such a short period of time, much more than any other player on the tour. Each match--I have to say that I have enjoyed them.”

Even if Hingis is 5-0 against Seles, she’s wise enough to understand she has dodged a bullet or two along the way.

“I don’t want to play Monica in the final,” Hingis said earnestly. “One of these times she’s going to beat me, and I’m not looking forward to that day.”

Refreshingly, Hingis does not pretend she’s unaware of her near-perfect season and honestly admits she would like it to continue.

“It’s another challenge,” Hingis said. “You don’t want to lose. You just want to keep winning.”

Sunday’s was the fourth meeting between Hingis and Seles in four months and the third final. Seles was wiped out in 40 minutes in the final at Lipton, then took Hingis to a third-set tiebreaker the following week at Hilton Head, S.C. Their semifinal match at the French Open was also a three-setter requiring a tiebreaker.

The trend continues. Hingis called Sunday’s match Seles’ best against her. Seles was too stung by the loss to be able to make such an assessment. She was preoccupied with another bleak statistical effort: 22 unforced errors. Her offering of free points was gratefully accepted by Hingis, who somehow fared better with her 18 unforced errors.

Seles broke in the seventh game to go up, 4-3, in the first set, but Hingis broke back. Seles broke again to serve for the set at 5-4, but she double-faulted twice, including at break point.

Hingis controlled the tiebreaker, firing in four consecutive points to take a 5-2 lead. Seles made a brief rally, but Hingis prevailed.

Seles served more sharply in the second set, and both players thrilled a capacity crowd with long rallies and daring shotmaking. Hingis appeared to have Seles in trouble in the seventh game, when she created two break points. But Seles fought her way out.

Hingis got the only break she needed in Seles’ next service game, again aided by a double fault.

But for those few points on serve, the match could have gone to Seles.

“I was just kind of hanging in there, as you say in the United States,” Hingis said. “She’s always the one I have to face in the final. She’s always fighting.”

It’s hardly Seles’ intention, but her pursuit of Hingis and her ability to make Hingis lift her game to win, will make the teenager a better player in a way that would not be possible if she were allowed to reel off wins unchallenged.

Also, Seles’ pride will dictate that she not accept losing to even a higher-ranked player, and she will probably be driven to better prepare.

Hingis says Seles was the player she most admired when she was growing up, enjoying her playing style and the way she presented herself. Hingis has neatly made the transition from fan to rival, and tennis and both players will be better for the change.

The rivalry continues. Both are entered in this week’s tournament at Manhattan Beach.