Hingis has it easy, Sharapova struggles
Former champion Martina Hingis cruised but top seed Maria Sharapova had to work a little harder to secure opening victories in the women’s event at the Pacific Life Open on Friday.
Hingis booked her place in the third round with a 6-1, 6-3 trouncing of Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki while a rusty Sharapova rattled up 11 double-faults before beating Dutch player Michaella Krajicek 7-6, 6-4.
Tournament winner in 1998 and twice a runner-up at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Hingis broke her opponent three times in the opening set before clinching victory in less than an hour.
“I tried to do some (different) things out there, come in more,” third seed Hingis told reporters as she remained on course for a possible semi-final clash with world number one Sharapova.
“I won a lot of points at the net and that is satisfying. Hopefully I can bring that in against the top players as well.
“It’s getting easier. When I needed it today, I came in and made some faster points.”
The world number six, who claimed her 43rd WTA Tour singles title at last month’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, is determined to retain her top-10 ranking by the end of the year.
“If I can earn my spot up there and put some pressure on the higher-ranked players, then that’s the only way I can succeed,” the 26-year-old said.
“And if I can occasionally win some more tournaments, I’ll be even happier.”
Sharapova, competing for the first time since being forced to retire with a hamstring injury midway through her Pan Pacific Open semi-final against Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic in Tokyo last month, looked particularly rusty in the first set. (Reuters)