Brittle Hingis Barely Gets Past Majoli

One vivid scene at the National Tennis Center on Friday illustrated the fragile state of Martina Hingis’ game. Not long after a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) third-round victory against Iva Majoli of Croatia, Hingis was back on the court under the hot sun.

It was like being held after school in detention.

The top-seeded Hingis, wearing sweat pants on a humid day, was on practice court No. 5 with doubles partner Jennifer Capriati, hitting against Steven Capriati. Hingis’ mother and coach, Melanie Molitor, was dispatching the orders at the U.S. Open.

She needed to do something after her close call against Majoli, the woman who stole the Grand Slam from Hingis when she beat her in the final of the French Open four years ago.

That year, Hingis won the Australian and U.S. opens and Wimbledon.

In this match, Majoli, though suffering from an injured thigh and a blister on her right hand, was two points from victory in the third-set tiebreaker.

Hingis moved on when Majoli hit a forehand return wide and netted another forehand on the final two points. The mid-80s heat and considerable humidity took its toll on Majoli, who looked like she was close to throwing up.

“To win matches like this, I should improve my fitness,” she said. “I’m gonna do that this winter and really work, so I can throw up at home.”

Hingis was relieved at avoiding her second straight early departure at a Grand Slam. She lost in the first round at Wimbledon.

“When you play Iva, there is a little history from the past,” Hingis said. “She has nothing to lose against me. Everyone knows she can play.”

Players aren’t fearing Hingis anymore.

“I actually wanted her to win,” said Jelena Dokic, who beat Hingis in the first round at Wimbledon in 1999 and will meet her in the fourth round here.

“I wanted to play her again. You know, I’ve got nothing to lose. There’s a lot of pressure on her.”

Only one of the top seeded women lost on Friday: Daja Bedanova beat No. 12 Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-4, 6-1. On the men’s side, the best rally came from No. 7 Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, who defeated George Bastl of Switzerland, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, a semifinalist last year and seeded fourth, almost went out to wild-card entrant James Blake in the second round, but advanced after Blake got sick and threw up in the fourth set. Hewitt won, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Another American survived the chaotic Friday. Andy Roddick, who turned 19 Thursday, defeated qualifier Jack Brasington, 6-2, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (4).