Lindsay Davenport ended Martina Hingis's two-year championship run at the Pan Pacific Open by lifting the title with a 6-7 6-4 6-2 victory in a high-calibre final today.
Davenport had Hingis on the ropes for most of the match but had trouble delivering the knockout punch as the Swiss world number one showed tennis mastery and escape artistry to take the first set and keep the second set close.
"It was a very tough match and there wasn't much difference between us," American Davenport said.
At 5-5 in the first set, Davenport had a chance to break serve and take the set but sent an easy half-volley into the net after pushing Hingis wide to chase down a blistering forehand. It was just one of several easy chances Davenport missed at the net, which helped keep Hingis in the match.
Hingis was able to hold serve and took the first set to a tie break, which she won easily as Davenport missed a volley and sent two backhands into the net on the final three points.
Davenport started the second set by losing her serve but evened the breaks in the fourth game at deuce when a forehand into the net cord gently landed on Hingis's side of the court. On the next point, Hingis sent a shot into the net.
Hingis had glitches in her service game when she was broken in the 10th game as she had two double faults and gave the second set to Davenport.
The American now took control of the match, breaking Hingis in the fourth game of the deciding set as she pounced on weak service offerings to hit two return winners.
Davenport looked ready to power past Hingis in the next game going 30-0 up and serving up an ace, but the wily Hingis brought the game to deuce.
Davenport fired off a pair of sharp serves to take the game and then ride out the set in the $1.2 million tournament.
Hingis gave credit to Davenport for her attacking strategy on the fast indoor surface, and said: "I think I served well in the first set, but I couldn't keep it up in the third.
"You have to win straight against Lindsay because she puts so much mental pressure on you in the third."
Hingis and Davenport were both looking to rebound in Tokyo from losses at the Australian Open where the American fell to Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals and Hingis tumbled against the same player in the final.
Asked if she had recovered from her disappointment in Melbourne by winning here to earn $175,000, Davenport said: "It's a great start and hopefully I can build on this and keep going."
Reuters