Teen Beat Goes On

By JULIE CART

July 6, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

WIMBLEDON, England —

During the first set of the Wimbledon women’s final--perhaps for the first time since she has been on the professional tour--Martina Hingis got an inkling of what it would have been like to play against her namesake, Martina Navratilova.

In fact, much of Saturday’s final evoked another Wimbledon era, with Hingis in the role of Chris Evert and Jana Novotna in the role of Navratilova. Hingis coolly patrolling the baseline, slashing passing shots when necessary, evoked Evert. Novotna’s penetrating serve and deft volleys brought to mind Navratilova.

That Hingis’ name will be included in future discussions about tennis greats there can be little doubt. The Swiss prodigy won her second Grand Slam title of the season, defeating Novotna in a thrilling final, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

As long as Hingis continues to practice her craft at her current level, and the talented but often disappointing Novotna can raise her game, there will be little need to refer to historical figures when discussing quality women’s tennis.

Hingis, 16, is the second-youngest Wimbledon singles titlist and the youngest singles winner in this century.

It was the first time in 20 years that a former winner was not vying for the women’s title. But Hingis and Novotna offered a display of contrasting styles that matched anything previous champions had to offer.

In the absence of the injured Steffi Graf and any real threat elsewhere, a sound Hingis appears unstoppable. She has lost only one match this year.

But her true mettle will always be tested over a two-week Grand Slam tournament. There, her record is most impressive. Hingis beat Mary Pierce to win the Australian Open in January and last month she narrowly lost to Iva Majoli in the French Open final. Now, Hingis has the most coveted title in tennis.

“What can I say, it’s like a dream come true,” Hingis said, her high-wattage smile beaming. “It might be that I am too young to win this title. I really did it. Maybe tomorrow I will realize I won this tournament.”

Novotna was far from the tragic figure she was when she gave Graf five match points in losing the final here in 1993. On Saturday, she played with assurance and fought for every point.

The difference was that Novotna--who will move to No. 2 in next week’s rankings--was unable to maintain the standard she attained in the first set. She was suffering from a strained abdominal muscle, which hampered her serving motion as the match progressed.

Novotna won the first four games of the match by serving and volleying and attacking Hingis’ frequent second serves. Hingis was frustrated and in the unusual position of not controlling the play. Novotna dominated Hingis as utterly as Graf did Arantxa Sanchez Vicario during a straight-sets victory in last year’s Wimbledon final.

“I felt like a beginner out there in the first set; she was the leader in this match,” Hingis said. “She was all over the net and she served very well. She didn’t give me enough space for returns. I was in shock in the first set.”

Hingis does many things well, but her mind is her greatest weapon. She remained calm, despite a racket-throwing incident that may have indicated otherwise. She thought her way out of trouble, figuring out Novotna’s weaknesses and moving quickly to exploit them.

Hingis broke in the sixth game of the second set, capitalizing on her first break point, to give her a 4-2 lead. Novotna furiously attacked Hingis’ serve as the teenager served for the set. Hingis was up, 40-love, and saw that deteriorate to three break points. She won on the fifth set point.

Hingis retaliated by making things difficult for Novotna in the opening service game of the third set. The game went to deuce five times. Novotna double-faulted twice and faced five break points before she managed to hold.

Novotna broke in the second game and was broken in her next service game and the set was back on serve. Novotna was unable to hold another service game.

Novotna’s serve grew weaker and weaker, and that allowed Hingis to take the offensive. The Czech’s first-serve percentage plummeted from 73% in the first set to 46% in the third.

Hingis made it to the final without facing a seeded player, while Novotna defeated 11th-seeded Mary Joe Fernandez and eighth-seeded Sanchez Vicario.

Novotna was gracious and poised during the postmatch ceremonies. She and Hingis engaged in the now-standard switching of the trophies and Novotna was even induced by the crowd to jog a lap, to warm applause.

She chatted at length with the Duchess of Kent, upon whose shoulder she cried after losing to Graf in 1993.

“After ‘93, it seems like we have a special relation,” Novotna said. “She was very kind to me, as always. She said I’d have to come back next year, third time lucky.”

Novotna believes she is ready to win a title. She and coach Hana Mandlikova organized her schedule to allow maximum preparation for Wimbledon. Novotna skipped the Australian Open and spent the winter months training.

Her revamped mental approach emphasizes positive thinking, which has made Novotna appear to brag, something she has in common with Hingis.

But here’s Novotna speaking about Hingis, after losing to her at Key Biscayne in March: “Once in a while a player comes along who is very special,” Novotna said, echoing the thoughts of many. “They are unique and nobody can copy them. Martina Navratilova was one, and now it is Martina Hingis.”

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Hingis’ Road To Crown

Top-seeded Martina Hingis’ opponents at Wimbledon:

* First round: defeated Anne Kremer, 6-4, 6-4.

* Second round: defeated Olga Barabanschikova, 6-2, 6-2.

* Third round: defeated Nicole Arendt, 6-1, 6-3.

* Fourth round: defeated Sabine Appelmans, 6-1, 6-3.

* Quarterfinals: defeated Denisa Chladkova, 6-3, 6-2.

* Semifinals: defeated Anna Kournikova, 6-3, 6-2.

* Championship: defeated Jana Novotna (seeded third), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

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