Hingis Gets Kournikova’s Attention

From time to time it becomes necessary for Martina Hingis to reassert herself as the teenage tennis champion, to distinguish herself from the pack of precocious pretenders baying at her top-ranked heels.

When the challenge comes from 16-year-old Anna Kournikova, the current pinup girl of “women’s” tennis, the urgency is that much greater. For it is the saucy Russian who has managed--not through dint of performance or ranking--to yank the spotlight from Hingis.

In her usual brisk manner, Hingis set the record straight, defeating the 29th-ranked Kournikova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, today in the third round of the Australian Open.

Two of the feistiest players on tour slugged it out from the baseline, the service line and from the net, and the win gave Hingis her third victory over Kournikova in a Grand Slam event.

Hingis, 17, exhibits more ferocity against her nubile teen rival than any other opponent. The match reflected that, and Kournikova’s intense desire to prove to the world that she’s as good as she’s been saying she is. Points and games were close; in the end, Hingis won 104 points and Kournikova 97.

Hingis quickly dismissed the notion that the tight match concerned her.

“Hummph,” was Hingis’ reply.

She’s already smarting at comments that her game has looked vulnerable here. In fact, Hingis will be compelled to raise her game quite a bit this season to defend this and a multitude of other titles won in last year’s fable-like season.

Maintaining that standard would be near impossible because the competition is far greater and Hingis cannot play as much as she did last year.

“I just need a break,” she said, sounding more worldly and tired than the young sprite she appeared to be last season. “It was a tough year last year. It was very long for me. I think I struggle with myself, not that they [other players] struggle with me. You can see that. Probably I lose sometimes to some players [I shouldn’t], but it was a tough year last year.

“I’ve always said this is going to be one of my most important years. We are going to see what is going to happen this year. I have to continue to improve myself. If I want to keep winning, I’ve got to get better.”

Hingis was such a firm bet to win here that her mediocre performances at Melbourne Park have been sobering. They also have been overshadowed by the emergence of 16-year-old Serena Williams, 17-year-old Venus Williams, 15-year-old Mirjana Lucic and, above all, the tanned and blond Kournikova.

Kournikova always draws a crowd at tournaments, usually young men and middle-aged sportswriters. She has the classic Nick Bollettieri aggressive baseline style, is not afraid to attack the net and has never won a tournament. Kournikova lost in the first round here last year, but she made such a strong impression that has surpassed even Mary Pierce in terms of Australian fans.

Hingis would never say it in words, but she never fails to say it with her racket: I’m No. 1 and I deserve the attention.

“Well, if I bring the results, I guess I will get the attention,” Hingis said. “I am the No. 1.”

This is the same player who last year demanded French Open officials change her scheduled start time because, “Everyone knows I’m not a morning person.”

The two hyper-confident teens are friendly off the court--they danced together at a player party earlier in the week and watch matches together. But like the good young professionals they are, neither would ever give an inch during a match.

“I think I went out there and showed that I can play her and play top players,” Kournikova said, reattaching the ever-present chip onto her shoulder. “I’m happy with the way I played. I was not nervous at all. It was a normal match. Today I showed everybody I can play tennis. If I become a little more experienced, I think I will be able to win the French Open.”

To win on the slow red clay at Roland Garros, Kournikova will have to tidy up her game. She made 53 unforced errors today, 34 on the backhand side. Much of her wildness came from teeing off on short balls Hingis, in her tentative moments, threw across at Kournikova.

The second set was the first Kournikova has ever won against Hingis.

“I went for the shots and that was it,” Kournikova said. “This time it was really close. Next time I am going to be even more smarter. She’s definitely playing well. But maybe not the best. But she’s No. 1 in the world.”

Exactly Hingis’ point. And don’t make her say it again.